Compare towns
Newcomb vs Jay vs Minerva vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% 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.
| Measure | Newcomb | Jay | Minerva | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 490 |
471Lowest |
836Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
| Newcomb and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Newcomb and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $784±$102 45% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
$3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Minerva 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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.