Compare towns

Jay vs Covington vs Middletown Springs

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%).
Covington has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).

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.

MeasureJayCovingtonMiddletown Springs
People
Population
471Lowest
1,409Highest
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
37.5±3.1Lowest
4% below U.S.
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
Jay and Middletown Springs 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%
29.7%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Covington and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±6.3
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
18.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middletown Springs and Covington 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.
$68,125±$14kLowest
16% below U.S.
$82,000±$12kHighest
about the U.S. average
Middletown Springs 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±$45k
30% below U.S.
$160,300±$17kLowest
52% below U.S.
$262,200±$24kHighest
21% below U.S.
Middletown Springs and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$892±$441Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,208±$438Highest
15% below U.S.
Middletown Springs and Covington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$3,750
20% above U.S.
$4,595Highest
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jay and Covington 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay and Middletown Springs 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 — 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 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.