What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).

Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newfields	Jay
People
Population	2,023Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Jay and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Newfields and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jay and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323 33% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Lowest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newfields School District	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.