What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Beals	Jay
People
Population	498Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48±15.6Lowest 23% above U.S.	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Jay and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Beals and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Beals and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,063±$14kLowest 21% below U.S.	$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Jay and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$45kHighest 23% below U.S.	$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Beals and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$378 36% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Lowest 17% below U.S.	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jay and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Beals Public Schools	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.