Compare towns

Jay vs Bowdoin 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

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
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.

MeasureJayBowdoinTroy
People
Population
471Lowest
3,188Highest
1,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
44.3±10Lowest
14% 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
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.2
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+
15.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
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+
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.2
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
$74,792±$25kLowest
7% below U.S.
$91,239±$13kHighest
13% above 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
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
$292,800±$71kHighest
12% 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
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$3,375Lowest
8% above U.S.
$3,644Highest
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±42.3Lowest
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
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1992
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±7
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 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District RSU 75/MSAD 75 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.