What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wade	Jefferson
People
Population	244Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±18.5Lowest 38% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wade and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±10.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wade and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$41,818±$25kLowest 48% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$157,100±$109kLowest 53% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,655Lowest 47% below U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.