Compare towns

Troy vs Jay vs Orwell vs Troy

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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 65.3).

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.

MeasureTroyJayOrwellTroy
People
Population
1,749Highest
471
1,294
219Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
44.5±5.7Lowest
3% above VT
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
47.5±7
10% above VT
65.3±26.4Highest
52% above VT
Troy 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.4%±7.9
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%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24%±3.1
VT: 21.4%
51.1%±17.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.2%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
22.1%
VT: 43.8%
9.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±6.3
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±$11k
8% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$70,417±$22kLowest
13% below VT
$91,688±$8kHighest
13% above VT
Troy and Troy 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
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$335,600±$25kHighest
6% above VT
$187,500±$46kLowest
41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
—
$1,105±$51Highest
10% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,644
28% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
$3,914Highest
22% below VT
$2,480Lowest
51% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±26.3Lowest
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
10.8%
VT: 10.1%
13.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%
VT: 73.2%
87.3%
VT: 73.2%
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
40 minHighest
69% above VT
27 min
15% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
7.8%±2.3
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
3.7%±5.1Lowest
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 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 —
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.