Compare towns
Orwell vs Jay vs Proctor
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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
471Lowest |
1,586Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.3±8.9Lowest 10% above VT |
| Jay and Orwell 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% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Proctor 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% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Proctor 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% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Orwell 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 |
$75,060±$12kHighest 8% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,059±$200Lowest 14% below VT |
| Orwell and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.