Compare towns
Troy vs Union vs Sheldon vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Union | Sheldon | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
2,663Highest |
2,267 |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Union 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 9% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Troy and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 54% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
U.S. 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.