Compare towns
Troy vs Unity 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Unity | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,375 |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Troy and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Troy School District | Unity School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.