Compare towns
Troy vs Arkwright vs Jay vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Troy | Arkwright | Jay | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
859 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Jay and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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+ | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Arkwright and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Arkwright and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Arkwright and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$875±$689 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,760Highest 21% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 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 | Troy School District | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.