Compare towns
Minerva vs Sheldon 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
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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.
| Measure | Minerva | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 836Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $784±$102 45% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 |
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.