Compare towns
Jerusalem vs Jay vs Buchanan vs Potter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jerusalem has the youngest population (median age 34).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Buchanan has the most expensive homes ($526k median).
Potter has the most affordable homes ($130k 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.
| Measure | Jerusalem | Jay | Buchanan | Potter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,278Highest |
471Lowest |
2,397 |
1,871 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
38.5±3.5 about the U.S. average |
35.1±6.7 10% below U.S. |
| Jay and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Potter and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jerusalem and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$128,218±$23kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$67,344±$19kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,900±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$525,500±$55kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$130,300±$23kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$116Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,953±$836Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,005±$136 29% below U.S. |
| Buchanan and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523 45% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,796Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±43.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jerusalem and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.