Compare towns
Troy vs Williamstown vs Jay 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 the most renters (13.4% rent).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Williamstown | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
3,579Highest |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Troy 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 8% above VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.