Compare towns
Orwell vs Strafford vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | Orwell | Strafford | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Lowest |
1,372 |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
| Strafford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$25k 6% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Strafford and Orwell 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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.