Compare towns
Beals vs Jay vs Brooklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Brooklin has the most expensive homes ($339k 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.
| Measure | Beals | Jay | Brooklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 498 |
471Lowest |
869Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±15.6Lowest 23% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.2±3.7 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooklin and Beals 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% |
24.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beals and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooklin and Beals 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. |
$68,750±$8k 15% below U.S. |
| Jay and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,700±$45k 23% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$339,400±$90kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$378Lowest 36% below U.S. |
— | $1,236±$137Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Brooklin and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,580 17% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,792Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.5%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Brooklin 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±10.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.8Lowest 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 | Brooklin Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.