Compare towns
Wells River vs Jay vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Wells River | Jay | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 340Lowest |
471 |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Jay and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orleans and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Jay and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Jay and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336Highest 27% below VT |
— | $810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Wells River and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells River and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 43% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 minLowest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.