Compare towns
Proctor vs Orwell vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Proctor | Orwell | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794Highest |
1,294 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% 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%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% 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 | $4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 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 | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.