Compare towns

Troy vs Coventry vs Orwell vs Jay

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).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureTroyCoventryOrwellJay
People
Population
1,749Highest
917
1,294
471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.5±5.7Lowest
3% above VT
45.2±5.2
5% above VT
47.5±7
10% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% 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%
20.2%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
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%
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
24%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Orwell and Coventry 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%
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
22.1%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.5Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Coventry 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
$59,342±$3kLowest
27% below VT
$70,417±$22k
13% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% 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
$197,900±$55kLowest
37% below VT
$335,600±$25kHighest
6% above VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
$755±$108
39% below VT
$1,105±$51Highest
10% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,644
28% below VT
$2,375Lowest
53% below VT
$3,914Highest
22% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
1.5%±27.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.1%±35.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
Orwell and Jay 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%
19.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.8%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
VT: 73.2%
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.3%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1993
17 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
36 min
53% above VT
27 min
15% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
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 Coventry School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.