What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stamford has the most expensive homes ($303k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stamford	Troy
People
Population	963Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	+3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	49.4±5.5Highest 15% above VT	44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT
	Stamford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	Troy and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4%	17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Stamford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Highest VT: 43.8%	20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Stamford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,646±$9kHighest 9% above VT	$87,938±$11kLowest 8% above VT
	Stamford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$303,200±$25kHighest 4% below VT	$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$935Highest 28% above VT	$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT
	Stamford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,113Highest about the VT average	$3,644Lowest 28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	30.8%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Troy and Stamford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 4 yrs newer than VT	1980 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 30% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	8.1%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9%	7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Stamford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stamford School District	Troy School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.