Compare towns
Lempster vs Jay vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the youngest population (median age 50.8).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k 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 | Lempster | Jay | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
471Lowest |
1,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2Lowest 31% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jay and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29k 27% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558 46% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 41% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
35 minLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lempster School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None 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.