Compare towns
Benson vs Jay vs Troy vs Bleecker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
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 | Benson | Jay | Troy | Bleecker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
471 |
1,749Highest |
563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Bleecker and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,893Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 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 | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Troy School District | — |
| High school 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.