What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jefferson	Troy
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Troy and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.	$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Troy and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.	$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Highest 39% below U.S.	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.	$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Troy and Jefferson 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%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	—	Troy School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.