Compare towns
Jay vs Warren vs Appleton
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%).
Warren has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Warren | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
4,932Highest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Appleton 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% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Jay 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Jay 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% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$74,616±$21k 8% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Jay and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$232,700±$32kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$456Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Warren and Appleton 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. |
$2,832Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.1%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Warren 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #120 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.