Compare towns
Stannard vs Plainfield vs Jay vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stannard has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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.
| Measure | Stannard | Plainfield | Jay | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 228Lowest |
1,016Highest |
471 |
381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±14.6 24% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Stannard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,979±$30kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $216,200±$44k 35% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $942±$52Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Ira and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Plainfield 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 | 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.