Compare towns

Jay vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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.

MeasureJaySpringfieldMiddletown Springs
People
Population
471Lowest
1,122Highest
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
51.4±8.8
32% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Lowest
26% above U.S.
Jay and Springfield 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%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Middletown Springs and Springfield 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%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middletown Springs 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±$25kLowest
7% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$82,000±$12k
about the U.S. average
Springfield 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.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$262,200±$24k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,208±$438Highest
15% below U.S.
Middletown Springs and Springfield 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.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,595
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jay and Springfield 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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay and Springfield 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.