Compare towns
Jefferson vs Hope vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most renters (9.5% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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 | Jefferson | Hope | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below 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±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Hope 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 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.