Compare towns
Jay vs Orange vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
957 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Jay and Wells 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells 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±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Jay 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 |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
| Orange and Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Orange 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.