Compare towns
Orwell vs Springfield vs Troy vs Walden
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).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Springfield | Troy | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
9,084Highest |
1,749 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Springfield 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Troy 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Orwell and Springfield 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 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 |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Troy School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.