Compare towns
Troy vs Benson vs Sheldon vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Benson | Sheldon | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
271Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest 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 | $87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| 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 30% below U.S. |
$230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 54% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.