Compare towns
Brooks vs Jay vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Brooks | Jay | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
471Lowest |
825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.1±7.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Jay and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooks and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Knox and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$64,821±$9k 20% below U.S. |
| Jay and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$159,600±$26kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Jay and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,375±$47Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,610Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.