Compare towns
Orwell vs Jay vs Walden
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%).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
471Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay and Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| 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%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.