What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k median).

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Patten
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	57.8±3.5Lowest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	11.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	38.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Patten 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.	$51,484±$6kLowest 36% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.	$127,600±$49kLowest 62% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Highest 39% below U.S.	$389±$99Lowest 72% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.	$1,199Lowest 62% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56%±64.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Patten and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	23.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Patten and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.