Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Sheldon | Wayne | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,033 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Jay 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
40.1%±6Highest 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% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Sheldon 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne 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. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne 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. |
$3,967Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Wayne 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% |
6.2% 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% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 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. |
28 min 7% 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% |
9.3%±4.2 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 | — | Troy School District |
| High school 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.