Compare towns
Troy vs Jackson vs Jay vs Orwell
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 youngest population (median age 44.5).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
897 |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Jay 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
— | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Jackson School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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.