Compare towns
Monroe vs Jay vs Barnet vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the highest household income ($88k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Barnet has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Monroe | Jay | Barnet | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786 |
471 |
1,855Highest |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Lowest 23% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$311,100±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
— | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,147±$81Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,981 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Monroe School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| 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 | 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.