Compare towns
Sullivan vs Jay vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Sullivan | Jay | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246 |
471Lowest |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±15Lowest 21% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Jay and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sullivan and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Jay and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Jay and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $920±$276Highest 35% below U.S. |
| Strong and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228 29% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.