Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Jay 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
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Bowdoin | Jay | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188Highest |
471Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $646±$323 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest 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 | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Bowdoin 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.