Compare towns
Troy vs Hampton vs Orwell 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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Hampton | Orwell | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,145 |
1,294 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay and Orwell 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Hampton 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Hampton 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. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% 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±$21k 30% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Hampton and Orwell 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Jay 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% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.