Compare towns
Jay vs Appleton vs Woodbury
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 people working from home (27.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Woodbury has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Woodbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,360Highest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54.5±8.8Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Woodbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±9.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woodbury and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±14.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woodbury and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$84,545±$16kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Woodbury and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$311,200±$57kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Woodbury and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,609Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.3%±95.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Woodbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Appleton Public Schools | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.