Compare towns
Troy vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($88k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Plainfield | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,016 |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% 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% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Orwell 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. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$750±$207 47% below U.S. |
— | $1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 17% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Plainfield 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above 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% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 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 | — | 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 |
| 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.