Compare towns
Jay vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Salem | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Salem 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% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Troy 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% |
31.9% 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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Salem 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Salem 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% 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 | — | $948±$40Highest 33% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Salem and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.