Compare towns
Summit vs Jay vs Worcester vs Black Brook
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 affordable homes ($150k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Black Brook has the most renters (11.9% 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 | Worcester | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 976 |
471Lowest |
2,149Highest |
1,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±7.3 43% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
43.2±6.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.5±5.8Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Black Brook and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Summit 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% |
17.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
36%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Summit and Black Brook 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% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Black Brook 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. |
$69,886±$23k 13% below U.S. |
$67,852±$20kLowest 16% 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. |
$155,300±$43k 53% below U.S. |
$202,200±$48k 39% below U.S. |
| Jay and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $736±$327Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$783±$461Highest 45% below U.S. |
| Black Brook and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,602 17% below U.S. |
$3,633Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.8%±41.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±32 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Black Brook 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% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.