What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

Westfield has the most kids (27.1% 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.

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

Measure	Jefferson	Westfield
People
Population	1,013Highest	536Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.	44±19.9Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Westfield 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%	27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	29.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Westfield 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%	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westfield 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.	$72,500±$30kHighest 10% below U.S.
	Westfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S.	$301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Westfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Highest 39% below U.S.	$863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Westfield 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.	$4,388Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westfield 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%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.