What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Beals has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	Troy	Beals
People
Population	1,749Highest	498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	48±15.6Highest 23% above U.S.
	Beals and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Troy and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Beals 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±$11kHighest 9% above U.S.	$64,063±$14kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Troy and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S.	$256,700±$45kHighest 23% below U.S.
	Beals and Troy 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.	$907±$378Highest 36% below U.S.
	Beals and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Highest 17% above U.S.	$2,580Lowest 17% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Troy and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±10.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beals and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Troy School District	Beals Public Schools
High school in town	None 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.