Compare towns
Jay vs Jerusalem vs Wayne
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%).
Jerusalem has the youngest population (median age 34).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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.
| Measure | Jay | Jerusalem | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,278Highest |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jerusalem 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% |
21.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$320,900±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
| Jerusalem and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $870±$116Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Jerusalem 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. |
$4,523Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±43.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jerusalem 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jerusalem 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 | 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.