Compare towns
Orwell vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
699Lowest |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Reading and Orwell 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Orwell and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Orwell 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.