Compare towns
Troy vs Upton vs Sheldon 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Upton | Sheldon | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
8,189Highest |
2,267 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Jay and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Upton 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Sheldon and Upton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Jay 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.