What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most kids (17.5% under 18).

Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

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	Jay	Bartlett
People
Population	4,657Highest	3,281Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average	57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kHighest 13% below U.S.	$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Jay and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S.	$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S.	$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,512Highest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bartlett and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bartlett and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#86 of 133 in ME	#74 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 73	Bartlett School District
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.