Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Windham vs Black Brook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Peru | Windham | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,354Highest |
434Lowest |
594 |
1,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6 25% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.5±5.8Highest 45% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
36%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Black Brook and Peru 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 10% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$67,852±$20kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$202,200±$48k 39% below U.S. |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
— | $783±$461Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741 20% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,633Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±32Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Black Brook and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Peru 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 | 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.