Compare towns
Jay vs Jefferson vs Sheldon
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 affordable homes ($187k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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.
| Measure | Jay | Jefferson | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,226 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Jay 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% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheldon 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±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sheldon 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. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,602Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.