What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most people working from home (8.8%).

Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).

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	Black Brook
People
Population	2,354Highest	1,315Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY	56.5±5.8Highest 42% above NY
	Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	10.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Jay and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	26.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7%
	Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,380±$19kHighest 16% below NY	$67,852±$20kLowest 21% below NY
	Jay and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY	$202,200±$48kHighest 52% below NY
	Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY	$783±$461Lowest 52% below NY
	Jay and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,741Highest 43% below NY	$3,633Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	46.9%±32Highest NY: 52.1%
	Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%	7.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	32 minHighest 3% below NY
Work from home	8.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Jay and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.