Compare towns
Beals vs Jay vs Whiting
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 most renters (16.1% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Whiting has the most kids (17.8% 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 | Beals | Jay | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 498 |
471Lowest |
506Highest |
| 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. |
50±5 29% above U.S. |
| Jay and Whiting 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% |
17.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
27.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beals and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beals and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,063±$14k 21% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$55,263±$2kLowest 32% 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±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$214,200±$52kLowest 36% 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±$378Highest 36% below U.S. |
— | $600±$333Lowest 58% below U.S. |
| Beals and Whiting 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. |
$1,728Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Whiting 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±10.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | Whiting 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.