Compare towns
Troy vs Castleton vs Orwell vs Brownington
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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Orwell | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
4,453Highest |
1,294 |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below 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%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Troy and Brownington 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$745±$504 40% 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 |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Troy 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 | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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.