Compare towns
Jay vs Lowell vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering JayRichford
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.
| Measure | Jay | Lowell | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
118,368Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Troy 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Lowell 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. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lowell | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.