Compare towns
Troy vs Webster vs Jay vs Westfield
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).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% 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 | Webster | Jay | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749 |
2,227Highest |
471Lowest |
536 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44±19.9Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Jay and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westfield and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Webster 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% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westfield and Webster 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. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$72,500±$30kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$301,400±$47k 9% below U.S. |
| Webster and Westfield 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $863±$187 39% below U.S. |
| Webster and Westfield 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,388 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westfield and Webster 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Merrimack Valley School District | 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.