Compare towns
Troy vs Orleans vs Jay
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Orleans | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
809 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Orleans 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% |
19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orleans and Troy 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% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orleans 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 8% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Troy and Jay 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 |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
| Jay and Troy 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 |
$810±$94Highest 34% below VT |
— |
| Orleans and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644Highest 28% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 33% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Troy School District | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.

