What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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	Ryegate	Jefferson
People
Population	1,059Highest	1,013Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Highest 36% below U.S.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Ryegate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.