Compare towns
Jefferson vs Unity vs Wayne vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Unity | Wayne | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013 |
1,375Highest |
1,101 |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Lowest 43% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wayne and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Unity 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$311,100±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Lyman 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,147±$81 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lyman 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,981 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyman and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Unity School District | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 4 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.