Compare towns
Springwater vs Jay vs Laurens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springwater has the most affordable homes ($148k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Laurens has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Springwater | Jay | Laurens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,503Highest |
471Lowest |
2,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.1 17% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44±8.9Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Jay and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Laurens and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springwater and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,670±$16kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$72,404±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Springwater and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $147,500±$17kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$170,000±$19k 49% below U.S. |
| Jay and Laurens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$438Lowest 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,134±$250Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Laurens and Springwater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,579 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,225Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.8%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springwater and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Laurens 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.