Compare towns
Benson vs Jay vs Hope vs German
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Hope has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
German has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Benson | Jay | Hope | German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
471 |
587Highest |
274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
50.3±8.5Lowest 29% above U.S. |
53.8±5.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| German and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±10.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| German and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$72,188±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$67,813±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Jay and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$211,300±$106k 36% below U.S. |
$112,500±$15kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Jay and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,225±$217Highest 13% below U.S. |
$817±$260Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Hope and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528 19% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,551 18% below U.S. |
$1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±98.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 62% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.