Compare towns
Stoddard vs Jay vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Stoddard | Jay | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Highest |
471Lowest |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316 38% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 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 | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.