Compare towns
Troy vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,749 |
3,216Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Lancaster 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
| Jay 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. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Lancaster and Troy 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. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Troy School District | White Mountains Regional School District | 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.