Compare towns
Jay vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$646±$323 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Appleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.