Compare towns

Orwell vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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.

MeasureOrwellDoverTroy
People
Population
1,294Lowest
1,466
1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.5±7
10% above VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
44.5±5.7Lowest
3% above VT
Dover 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%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
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%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.7%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dover 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%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
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
$70,417±$22k
13% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$87,938±$11kHighest
8% above VT
Troy and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,600±$25kHighest
6% above VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$233,200±$21kLowest
26% below VT
Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$51Highest
10% below VT
$670±$49
46% below VT
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,914
22% below VT
$4,510Highest
10% below VT
$3,644Lowest
28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
15% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
13.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dover and Orwell 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 River Valleys Unified School District #73 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

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.