Compare towns
Jay vs Jefferson vs Proctor vs Unity
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k median).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Jefferson | Proctor | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,013 |
1,794Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Proctor 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% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson 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% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Jefferson 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Proctor 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. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jefferson 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 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 photos → | 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.