Compare towns
Jay vs Keene vs Black Brook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most kids (16% under 18).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Keene | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354Highest |
710Lowest |
1,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NY: +4.2% |
+3.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY |
59.9±5.9Highest 51% above NY |
56.5±5.8 42% above NY |
| Keene and Black Brook 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% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
10.6%±3.3 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% |
39.3%±7.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
36%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Keene and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NY: 40.2% |
55.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
2%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Black Brook and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19k 16% below NY |
$93,542±$40kHighest 9% above NY |
$67,852±$20kLowest 21% below NY |
| Keene and Jay 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 |
$471,400±$114kHighest 11% above NY |
$202,200±$48k 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366 22% below NY |
$1,575±$566Highest about the NY average |
$783±$461Lowest 52% below NY |
| Keene and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741 43% below NY |
$5,714Highest 13% below NY |
$3,633Lowest 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
36.4%±51.5 NY: 52.1% |
46.9%±32Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Black Brook and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% NY: 14% |
3.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
32 min 3% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
26.5%±11Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| 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 | 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.