Compare towns
Jay vs Orange vs Washington
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).
Washington has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
957 |
1,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Jay 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% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington 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% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Highest VT: 7% |
| Washington and Orange 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Jay and Orange 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±$22k 30% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Jay and Orange 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 |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.