Compare towns
Orwell vs Cornwall vs Athens vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Troy has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Orwell | Cornwall | Athens | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,208 |
431Lowest |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
| Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Cornwall and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.