Compare towns
Orwell vs Jay vs Whiting 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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Whiting | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
471Lowest |
532 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Whiting 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% 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% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%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 |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Orange 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.