Compare towns
Troy vs Barre vs Sheldon vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Troy | Barre | Sheldon | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
8,412Highest |
2,267 |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
| Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below 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 | $233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.