Compare towns
Troy vs Stratton 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 the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Stratton | Orwell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
532Lowest |
1,294 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%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% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 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±$11k 8% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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.