Compare towns
Orwell vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Orwell 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.