Compare towns

Orwell vs Unity vs Troy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.

MeasureOrwellUnityTroy
People
Population
1,294Lowest
1,375
1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.5±7
22% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
44.5±5.7Lowest
14% above U.S.
Unity 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
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Orwell and Troy 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 U.S.
$87,500±$16k
8% above U.S.
$87,938±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
Troy and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,600±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
$276,100±$29k
17% below U.S.
$233,200±$21kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Unity and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,914
25% above U.S.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$3,644Lowest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orwell and Unity 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 Unity 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

U.S. 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.