Compare towns
Ira vs Jay vs Union vs Mount Tabor
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).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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 | Ira | Jay | Union | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381 |
471 |
2,663Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 33% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,233Highest 68% 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%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
11% 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% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% 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% |
10.4%±8.7 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 | 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.