Compare towns
Sheldon vs Orleans vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Sheldon | Orleans | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
809Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Orleans and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,644Highest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Troy and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Troy School District |
| High school 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.

