What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jasper has the most kids (33.6% under 18).

Minerva has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jasper	Minerva
People
Population	1,308Highest	836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.3±7.4Lowest 6% below NY	56.2±5.7Highest 41% above NY
Kids under 18	33.6%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5%	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	35.8%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,588±$7kHighest 6% below NY	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	Jasper and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,600±$13kLowest 71% below NY	$171,800±$22kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$658±$149Lowest 59% below NY	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY
	Minerva and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,250Lowest 66% below NY	$2,608Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.7%±54.6Highest NY: 52.1%	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jasper and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Highest NY: 14%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 26% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	12.2%±7Highest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±7.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jasper and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.