Compare towns
Troy vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Walpole | Jay | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
3,690Highest |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Orwell 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% 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% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Troy and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Walpole 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. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Orwell 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest 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. |
1967Lowest 13 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 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Troy School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 | 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.