Compare towns
Jay vs Mapleton vs Starks
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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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.
| Measure | Jay | Mapleton | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,884Highest |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
| Jay and Starks 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Starks 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Starks and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Jay and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Starks and Mapleton 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. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.