Compare towns
Troy vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Dover | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,466 |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Dover and Jay 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 8% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
— | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.