Compare towns
Bath vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Bath | Jay | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Bath and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Bath School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



