Compare towns
Orange vs Jay vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Orange | Jay | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
471Lowest |
1,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% 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 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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+ | 19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% 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 | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% 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 | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest 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 | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.