Compare towns
Jay vs Orange vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Jay | Orange | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
957 |
999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT |
| Jay and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orange and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Jay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Jay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.