Compare towns

Orwell vs Orleans 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%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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.

MeasureOrwellOrleansTroy
People
Population
1,294
809Lowest
1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.5±7Highest
10% above VT
41.7±5.8Lowest
3% 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%
17.9%±4.5Lowest
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%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
17.7%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Orwell and Orleans 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%
24.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Orleans and Orwell 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
$57,159±$10kLowest
30% 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
$156,300±$18kLowest
51% below VT
$233,200±$21k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$51Highest
10% below VT
$810±$94
34% below VT
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,914Highest
22% below VT
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
$3,644
28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
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%
8.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
64.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
15% above VT
31 minHighest
33% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13.3%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.3%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Orwell and Orleans 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 — Troy School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.