What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ascutney has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2%).

Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ascutney	Jefferson
People
Population	381Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	64.4±7.3Highest 66% above U.S.	58±3.5Lowest 49% above U.S.
	Ascutney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.2%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	44.9%±15Highest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ascutney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,269±$46kLowest 34% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,800±$91kLowest 34% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,429Lowest 10% above U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 40% below U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±24.4 U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.