Compare towns
Jefferson vs Unity vs Whiting
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 people working from home (17.5%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013 |
1,375Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting 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±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Whiting 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. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Unity and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.