Compare towns
Troy vs Wilbraham 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).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Wilbraham | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749 |
14,572Highest |
1,294Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% 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% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Orwell 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% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilbraham and Orwell 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 9% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$416,000±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,175±$241Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Wilbraham 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. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #88 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.