Compare towns
Orwell vs Jay vs Highgate vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Orwell | Jay | Highgate | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
471Lowest |
3,528Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3 17% 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 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.