Compare towns
Troy vs Unity vs Jay vs Sheldon
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Unity | Jay | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
1,375 |
471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Sheldon 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Troy and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Unity School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.