Compare towns
Jay vs Springfield vs Stoddard
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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Springfield | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,122Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard 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. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Stoddard 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. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Stoddard 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. |
$4,316 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Jay 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | Stoddard School District |
| 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.