Compare towns
Bleecker vs Jay vs Minerva vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Bleecker | Jay | Minerva | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 563 |
471 |
836Highest |
271Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
| Jay and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,100±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$230,100±$15k 31% 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 | $950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
— | $784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— |
| Bleecker and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Bleecker 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.