Compare towns
Orange vs Ripton vs Jay vs Orwell
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 most affordable homes ($222k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Ripton | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
508 |
471Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% 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 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell 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 |
— | — | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.