Compare towns
Troy vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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.
| Measure | Troy | Orange | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749 |
7,573Highest |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Orwell 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% 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±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Troy 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.