Buffy, Xander, Willow, Cordelia and Oz. Who's older and who's younger?

We all know that Oz is one grade older than the rest. In episode two/season 2 it was mentioned that Cordelia had a body of a 17 year old girl, while in episode five/season 2 Xander had mentioned that he was 16 and a half. So does that make Cordelia older than Xander? Xander was already 17 at Buffy's birthday, so he's older than her. I've got no information about Willow at all.

So it seems to be from the oldest to youngest:

1- Oz 2- Cordelia 3- Xander 4- Buffy

I'm not sure where Willow fits, but I wish she'd be the youngest because I have a dislike for main character/hero being the youngest character.

1.  Oz

2.  Xander

3.  Cordy

4.  Buffy

5.  Willow

Don't ask me why, this just seems right to me.

I used to think it was in this order until I heard the comment about Cordelia being 17 year old while three episodes later Xander referred to himself as 16 and a half. So Xander is younger than Cordelia, I assume.

Are we talking chronological age here... or  mental age... cause if its mental... xander is younger than the anointed one.  *snicker*

Aw, true, Xander has this boyish, childlike personality, but I think when things get tough, he becomes serious and adult like. Like in When She Was Bad. (Yeah, I have been watching season 2 lately.)

I don't have time to rewatch the epi that said Cordelia had the body of a 17 year old girl, but if that was the actual wording, it could simply mean that she was mature-looking for her age.  Can't say that it's something that I've given much thought to. They were all in the same grade, so I just assume all within a year or so of each other's age. (Not counting OZ)

Cordelia had a birthday at some point... one of the seasons of Angel, but I don't remember which. You could get an idea of when in the year her birthday falls from that. 

I'm pretty certain that we never got any indication of Willow's age relative to the others, except that they're all in the same grade.

Edit: Duh. Cordy's 21st birthday episode is called "Birthday," and it aired Jan. 14, 2002, although for some reason, Wikipedia puts her birthday in December. Haven't watched the episode in forever, so I don't know if they specifically mention that it's December or not. Either way, it makes her younger than Xander and older than Buffy.

I always wondered why, if Willow was such a brain, she wasn't skipped ahead a grade or two??  I assume she didn't, since she and Xander were in preschool together, otherwise, it could have been positioned that there was a two year difference b/n Xander & Willow; Xander feasibly being held back a year, and Willow being skipped ahead a year; this would still have them in the same graduating class, but I guess being in preschool together nixes that theory.  Too bad, b/c I always thought Xander was the oldest of the bunch, but maybe not??

I think Oz was the oldest, than Xander and Cordelia, than Buffy and last Willow. But when Tara came along I think she was older than Xander but younger than Oz.

Well, Cordy was 18 during the prom; remember that great quote from Giles to Wesley?? 

"For God's sake, man, she's eighteen. And you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone. Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering about!" 

Though in Enemies (aired in March), Xander says, "Can you say the words jailbait, Wesley?" which would make it sound like she was still 17 then.  Of course, Xander could have just been mouthing off.

I assume she didn't, since she and Xander were in preschool together, otherwise, it could have been positioned that there was a two year difference b/n Xander & Willow; Xander feasibly being held back a year, and Willow being skipped ahead a year

I don't think it makes sense that Willow might've skipped a year and Xander was held back. Aside from the kindergarten thing (I'm pretty sure it was kindergarten, not preschool. In any case, the yellow crayon incident was kindergarten). If anything, Willow's aptitude and Xander's... lack of aptitude would indicate the opposite. If they'd been moved up or down a grade, they'd more than likely have been closer to an average student. That's the whole point of moving them - so that they're in a class that's learning on their level. The fact that they are at such extremes academically indicates that they're both in the proper grade level for their age, even though perhaps accommodations should have been made.

Xander is a "Cs make degrees" kinda student. :P Most kids in school are like him, really, in that they just want to get through and get by and graduate. Average.

The ages can be hard, considering how the writers moved birthdays and references around. It took them a while just to figure out Buffy's. The only one you're sure about right off is Oz because he flunked a grade and should have graduated in '98.

*smacks forehead*  That's what I meant, kindergarten

If we count that Xander was 16 and a half in episode 5 in season 2, and Buffy's 17th birthday was in episode 13 in season 2, then there will be a slight difference between their birthdays. Maybe he's a month or a few weeks older than her.

What's the date of Buffy's birthday again?

Okay, here's what we're given:

Oz - born sometime between (approx) Oct. 1979 and Oct. 1980. (No birthday given, but he's a year older than the rest of the gang. October dates based on approximate birthday cut-off for entering school.)

Tara - born Nov. 1980. ("Family" - air date Nov. 7th.)

Xander - born between Nov. 1980 and Jan. 1981. (He was "sixteen and a half" in "Reptile Boy," which aired Oct. 14th - I'm assuming that's approximate, and he was more like sixteen and three-quarters - and he was seventeen by Buffy's birthday in January.)

Cordelia - born Jan. 1981. ("Birthday" - air date Jan. 14th.)

Buffy - born between Jan. 17-20, 1981. Most likely Jan. 19th. (Air dates from "Surprise" and "Helpless," plus comments in "Doomed" and her headstone in "The Gift.")

Willow - No information given.

I guess it's a minor continuity error, but in Angel season 1, Cordelia uses her birthday as a security code.  The thing is, the numbers are 0522.  I guess the writers just forgot about this later.  (I swear I'm not obsessed! Really!)

The security code scene versus "Birthday" are a prime example of the writers not paying attention to certain details (and they were really lazy with birthdays!). But we can work around it. That's the true reason fanfic exists: To correct the orginal writers goof ups! Just kidding... sort of.

Example: Say we want to correct the above birthday flub. Maybe Cordy was "testing his memory"  with the security code to see if he said "Hey! I thought your birthday was in the winter!" Of course, he didn't say that and failed. Hey, it could happen! Or we could make it happen. Hehe