What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jefferson	Hope
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.	$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S.	$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.	$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hope and Jefferson 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%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Hope Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.