Compare towns
Lewis vs Jay vs Hamden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewis has the most people working from home (11.9%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Hamden has the most expensive homes ($227k 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 | Lewis | Jay | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,156Lowest |
2,354Highest |
1,245 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% NY: +4.2% |
-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 52.3±5.2Highest 31% above NY |
48.8±4.6Lowest 23% above NY |
51±7.5 28% above NY |
| Lewis and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
13.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lewis and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.3%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
31.4%±9.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Hamden and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
31.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
1%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Jay and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,083±$35kHighest 5% below NY |
$72,380±$19k 16% below NY |
$64,457±$14kLowest 25% below NY |
| Lewis and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $181,000±$26kLowest 57% below NY |
$196,900±$22k 54% below NY |
$226,500±$16kHighest 47% below NY |
| Hamden and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $985±$284 39% below NY |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
$934±$68Lowest 42% below NY |
| Jay and Lewis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,801Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,741Highest 43% below NY |
$3,416 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±46.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.8%±37.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Lewis and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.7% NY: 14% |
11.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 24% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
24 minLowest 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.4%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Lewis and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.