What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).

East Machias has the most kids (23.3% 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	East Machias
People
Population	471Lowest	1,223Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.	42.8±2.9Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Jay and East Machias 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%	23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	East Machias 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%	19.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	East Machias 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	East Machias 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±$25kHighest 7% below U.S.	$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Jay and East Machias 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.	$210,800±$23kLowest 37% below U.S.
	Jay and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$907±$566 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,836Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	East Machias and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District	East Machias Public Schools
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.