Compare towns
Jefferson vs Wayne vs Unity vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Wayne | Unity | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,101 |
1,375Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
53±4Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoddard and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Stoddard 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Wayne 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. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Wayne and Stoddard 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. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$895±$751 37% below U.S. |
| Unity and Wayne 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,316 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Unity 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | RSU 38 | Unity School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.