What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Covert has the most kids (24.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Covert
People
Population	471Lowest	2,004Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.	50.4±4.3Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Jay and Covert 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%	24.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Covert 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%	25.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±1 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S.	$75,688±$16kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Covert 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±$45kHighest 30% below U.S.	$227,200±$48kLowest 32% below U.S.
	Jay and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,257±$236 11% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$3,724Highest 19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±18.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Covert 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%	7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay and Covert 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	SOUTH SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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.