What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).

Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).

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	Bedford
People
Population	471Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Jay and Bedford 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%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bedford and Jay 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%	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford 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±$25kLowest 7% below U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,099±$274 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Lowest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	None in town	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
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.