Compare towns
Ira vs Jackson vs Sandgate vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Jackson has the highest household income ($77k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Ira | Jackson | Sandgate | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,695Highest |
435 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Jackson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$77,375±$8kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,165Highest 34% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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.