Compare towns
Troy vs Middlesex 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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Middlesex | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749 |
1,943Highest |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$11k 8% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Orwell 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644Lowest 28% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Troy 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.