Compare towns
Orwell vs Northfield 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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Northfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Orwell and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Orwell 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.