Compare towns
Jay vs Sheldon vs Wayne 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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Wayne | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,033 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middletown Springs and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Middletown Springs 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438 15% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Middletown Springs 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$4,595Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.