Compare towns
Jay vs Minerva 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%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Minerva | Sandgate | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
836 |
435Lowest |
1,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Minerva and Sandgate 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% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Jay 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% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Sandgate 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% |
28.4% 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% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva 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. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
| Jay and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $784±$102Highest 45% below U.S. |
— | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Minerva and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,778 11% below U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
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% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 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. |
31 min 17% 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% |
11.6%±7.9 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 | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — | Troy School District |
| High school 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.