What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Jefferson 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	Jefferson
People
Population	498Lowest	1,013Highest
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.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson 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%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Beals and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Beals and Jefferson 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.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson 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±$45kLowest 23% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Beals 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.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Beals and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Lowest 17% below U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson 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%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Beals and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Beals Public Schools	—
High school 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.