Compare towns
Troy vs Reading 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 the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Reading | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
699Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Orwell 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Troy and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Reading and Orwell 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Orwell and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Orwell 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Troy School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.