Compare towns
Troy vs Wayne vs Orwell 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Wayne | Orwell | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,033 |
1,294 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell 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±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Troy 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. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Wayne 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. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Orwell and Wayne 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. |
$3,967Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| 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.