Compare towns

Monroe vs Orwell vs Troy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.

MeasureMonroeOrwellTroy
People
Population
786Lowest
1,294
1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51±10.4Highest
31% above U.S.
47.5±7
22% above U.S.
44.5±5.7Lowest
14% above U.S.
Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.3%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,150±$7kHighest
9% above U.S.
$70,417±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$87,938±$11k
9% above U.S.
Monroe and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$312,700±$58k
6% below U.S.
$335,600±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
$233,200±$21kLowest
30% below U.S.
Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$218
22% below U.S.
$1,105±$51Highest
22% below U.S.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,661Lowest
15% below U.S.
$3,914Highest
25% above U.S.
$3,644
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±39
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
3.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Monroe School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Troy School District
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

U.S. 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.