Compare towns
Orwell vs Fairfield 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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.
| Measure | Orwell | Fairfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Lowest |
1,938Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Orwell and Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Orwell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Troy 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest 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 |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Fairfield 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.