Compare towns
Troy vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749 |
5,920Highest |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Troy and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Orwell and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Orwell 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.