What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Embden has the most affordable homes ($173k 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	Embden
People
Population	471Lowest	995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S.	60.6±5.1Highest 56% above U.S.
	Embden and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.2%±7.3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jay and Embden 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%	34.6%±9.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jay and Embden 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.	$56,875±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Jay and Embden 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.	$173,400±$59kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Jay and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,804Lowest 42% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jay and Embden 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%	12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	96.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.7%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay and Embden 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	—
High school 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.