What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Lempster has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Troy	Lempster
People
Population	1,749Highest	953Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S.
	Lempster and Troy 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%	12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lempster 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.	$86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Troy and Lempster 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.	$241,900±$29kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Lempster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$646±$323 54% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S.	$4,558Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lempster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Troy and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Troy School District	Lempster School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.