Compare towns
Troy vs Windham vs Sandgate 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Windham | Sandgate | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
594 |
435Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Orwell 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Windham 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±$21k 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
— | — | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Windham 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 |
| High school 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.