Troy offers abundant recreation in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom
It may not be visible from its small town center, but the Troy area covers a large section of Orleans County in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Troy's setting is one that someone would expect of a Northeast Vermont area less than 10 miles from the Canadian border: general stores, farmhouses, quilters, maple shops, ski resorts and wooded hills for miles around. "It's a real rural small town," says Sharon Patten, Troy's summer assistant town clerk. "We barely have more than one restaurant." Naturally, people who live out here prefer endless outdoor space over endless shopping and dining. "For fun, people just go for a walk in the woods or hike Jay Peak," Patten says. "That's what people do here."
Skiing at Jay Peak and hiking in the Green Mountains
Most homes in Troy are less than 10 miles from Jay Peak, one of Vermont's most popular ski resorts. The mountain has slopes for all skill levels and a ski school for beginners. Come summertime, when the hills turn from white to green, the Jay Peak Resort Golf Course opens. Anyone can pay to play, but they also offer membership. Hiking is the primary summer activity. Trailheads can be found at the foot of Jay Peak and throughout the state parks and forests around Troy. Big Falls State Park is known for its scenic rapids and waterfalls. Of course, there are more than forests in the Northeast Kingdom. Lake Memphremagog is just over 10 miles east. The lake is shared with Canada and provides plenty of space for boating, swimming and fishing.
Farmhouses and mountain cabins with acreage
Troy's median single-family home price is about $420,000. It's also standard for homes to have acres of land. Even at the low end of the range, around $250,000, small mountain cabins and cottages sit on at least an acre. Around the median price, midsize New England farmhouses and cabins can come with spacious 3-acre lots or properties with over 10 acres. The high end of the range is around $700,000. These are typically large, newer homes on substantial land, including 100-plus-acre countryside estates.
Country stores, quilters and maple shops
Troy's local establishments offer exactly what people might guess when they think of rural northern Vermont. The big red farmhouse in the center of town is the Troy General Store, where locals go for basic groceries. The Junction is next door. It's the town center's only restaurant, serving classic diner fare. The Vermont Quilter's Schoolhouse is on the east end of town. It celebrates Vermont's quilting tradition and sells its handmade quilts. That's just one of the quilters in town. Country Thyme Vermont Quilt Shop is just north of the town center. To the south, Couture's Maple Shop sells treats made with Vermont maple syrup tapped straight from the source. There are similar small markets and eateries in the villages and towns adjacent to Troy. For supermarket shopping, residents can drive to Newport and Derby, just over 10 miles east.
Ski program at the Troy School
Troy is part of the North Country Supervisory Union, a union of independent schools in Orleans County. Kids begin at the Troy School, a kindergarten through eighth grade school in the village of Troy that receives a D-plus rating from Niche. During the winter, the Troy School offers a ski program, in which students go to Jay Peak to learn or practice skiing. Some students may complete seventh and eighth grade at North Country Union Junior High in Derby, rated a C-plus. All finish at North Country Union Senior High, which earns a C-minus.
Within 100 miles of Montreal and 220 miles of Boston
With the Canadian border less than 10 miles north, Troy is closer to Quebec's major cities than New England's. Montreal is 100 miles northwest, and Boston is still a reasonable 220 miles southeast. Burlington International Airport, located in Burlington, is 70 miles southwest of Troy. Montpelier, Vermont's state capital, is 60 miles south.
