Compare towns
Starks vs Jay vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most renters (10% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ludlow has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Starks | Jay | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Highest |
471 |
444Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.1±5.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Jay and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ludlow and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Starks and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ludlow and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$62,500±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Jay and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27k 55% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
— | $988±$111Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,655 47% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±94.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Ludlow 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.