Compare towns
Unity vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k 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 | Unity | Sheldon | Jay | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
2,267Highest |
471Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
— | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 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 | Unity School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 | 14 photos → |
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.