Compare towns
Danube vs Jay vs Plainfield vs Stark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danube has the most kids (30.9% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Stark has the most renters (26% rent).
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 | Danube | Jay | Plainfield | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 888 |
471Lowest |
1,016Highest |
685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.2±5 about the U.S. average |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
46.3±15.8 19% above U.S. |
| Jay and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Danube are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Danube are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,917±$23k 16% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$60,875±$14kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,600±$24kLowest 57% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$156,800±$33k 53% below U.S. |
| Jay and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$566Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$929±$257 34% below U.S. |
| Danube and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,850 9% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,492 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±98.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±42.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Stark 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.