Compare towns
Troy vs Brighton vs Jay 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 the highest household income ($88k).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brighton | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,167 |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest 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+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Orwell 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Troy and Jay 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
— | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Brighton School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.