Compare towns
Troy vs Ryegate vs Orwell vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Ryegate | Orwell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
1,059Lowest |
1,294 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Troy and Sheldon 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 | 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.