What stands out worked out from the figures below

Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

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	Porter	Jefferson
People
Population	1,746Highest	1,013Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±7.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Porter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Porter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,417±$9kLowest 25% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$226,100±$20kLowest 32% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,841Lowest 41% below U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.9%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Porter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	15.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.