Compare towns
Troy vs Ripton vs Jay 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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Ripton | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
508 |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Troy 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | — | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.