Compare towns
Jay vs Rome vs Middletown Springs
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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Rome | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,215Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.3±9.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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% |
21.4%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Rome 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% |
24.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middletown Springs and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rome and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$77,639±$25k 4% below U.S. |
$82,000±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Middletown Springs and Rome 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. |
$329,300±$36kHighest about the U.S. average |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$56Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$4,595Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±59.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rome 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% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.