Compare towns
Troy vs Sheldon vs Montgomery 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Montgomery has the most people working from home (16%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Sheldon | Montgomery | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
2,267Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Montgomery 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% 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±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Montgomery 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.