Compare towns
Ira vs Jay vs Union
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Ira | Jay | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
471 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ira and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Union 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Ira and Union 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. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Ira 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 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 | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.