Compare towns
Summit vs Jay vs Jefferson vs Minerva
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Summit has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Minerva has the most renters (12% 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 | Summit | Jay | Jefferson | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 976 |
471Lowest |
1,226Highest |
836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±7.3 43% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Minerva and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Summit and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Summit and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,375±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Jay and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$29kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22k 48% below U.S. |
| Jay and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $784±$102 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,602Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jefferson 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 | 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.