Compare towns
Jay vs Dracut vs Sandgate 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 homeowners (97%).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Jay | Dracut | Sandgate | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
32,574Highest |
435Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Dracut 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Jay 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Dracut | — | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.