Compare towns
Stannard vs Walden vs Wayne vs Jay
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 most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Walden | Wayne | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 228Lowest |
1,037Highest |
1,033 |
471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±14.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
14.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Walden 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% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Jay 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. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $216,200±$44kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Highest 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Wayne and Walden 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. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | 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 | 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.