What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Troy	Orwell
People
Population	1,749Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 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%±3.9Lowest 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%	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	22.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	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 8% above VT	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT
	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 26% below VT	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Lowest 28% below VT	$3,914Highest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	27 minHighest 15% above VT
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Orwell and Troy 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 Our Story	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.