Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Colrain 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Troy has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Sheldon | Colrain | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,627 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Colrain 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colrain 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±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Colrain 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Colrain 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mohawk Trail | 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.