Compare towns
German vs Jay vs Ward
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
German has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ward has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
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 | German | Jay | Ward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 274Lowest |
471Highest |
384 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.8±5.8 38% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
57.3±5.6Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±7.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| German and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$75,104±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Ward and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $112,500±$15kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$133,800±$31k 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $817±$260Lowest 42% below U.S. |
— | $1,075±$207Highest 24% below U.S. |
| Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,844Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,118 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and German 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above U.S. |
40 minLowest 50% above U.S. |
40 min 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
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.