Compare towns
Alexandria vs Jay vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Alexandria | Jay | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,983Highest |
471Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±5 35% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Alexandria and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alexandria and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,194±$8kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$27kHighest about the U.S. average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,135±$273Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,021 61% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alexandria and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Unity School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.