What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jefferson	Wade
People
Population	1,013Highest	244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	53.6±18.5Lowest 38% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wade and Jefferson 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%	34.8%±10.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wade 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Wade 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.	$41,818±$25kLowest 48% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wade 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.	$157,100±$109kLowest 53% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156 39% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.	$1,655Lowest 47% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Wade 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%	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.1%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Wade 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.