Compare towns
Troy vs Exeter vs Sheldon 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 highest household income ($88k).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Exeter | Sheldon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
913 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay and Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Sheldon 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. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below 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 | $233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 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.