Compare towns
Orwell vs Stratton 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
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
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 | Stratton | Strafford | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
532Lowest |
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 |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.5±5.7 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 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% |
33.2% 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% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Strafford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$4,750 6% 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% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 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 | 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.