What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Wells
People
Population	2,354Highest	1,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±4.6Lowest 25% above U.S.	50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S.
	Wells 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 U.S.: 22%	15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jay and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jay and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wells 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±$19kLowest 10% below U.S.	$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Wells 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 41% below U.S.	$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,272±$366Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S.
	Wells and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,741Highest 20% above U.S.	$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±21.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wells 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 U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.	1977 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.	48 minHighest 80% above U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wells and Jay 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	Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.