Compare towns
Starks vs Jay vs Union vs Madison
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 affordable homes ($149k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Union | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556 |
471Lowest |
2,663 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.9±12.3 15% 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%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±7.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Union 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6%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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Madison and Union 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±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,698±$20kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Union and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$163,900±$59k 51% below U.S. |
| Union and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$850±$218Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Union and Starks 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,740 44% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±14.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Madison 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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.