Compare towns
Whiting vs Windham vs Jay vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Whiting | Windham | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
594 |
471Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 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 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 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+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±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 | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Windham and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Windham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | — | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest 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 | 11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.