Compare towns
Troy vs Castleton vs Highgate 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Castleton | Highgate | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
4,453Highest |
3,528 |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Highgate 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Troy and Highgate 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Orwell 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.