Compare towns
Troy vs Beals vs Jay
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 most kids (21.4% under 18).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Beals | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
498 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48±15.6 23% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay and Beals 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%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Troy and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Beals 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. |
$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. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Troy 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±10.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Beals 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 |
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.