What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Ryegate
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate and Jefferson 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.	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Ryegate 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.	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Ryegate 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.	$908±$236Highest 36% below U.S.
	Ryegate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate 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%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 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%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Ryegate 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.