Compare towns
Troy vs Minerva vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Minerva | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
836Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Minerva 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva 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 9% above U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Troy and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$784±$102 45% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 17% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Troy School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.