Compare towns
Wade vs Jefferson vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Lowell has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Wade | Jefferson | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 244Lowest |
1,013Highest |
378 |
| 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. |
55.5±8.6 43% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Lowell 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% |
13.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wade and Lowell 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%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
30% 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% |
1.9%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Lowell 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. |
$50,833±$31k 37% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Lowell 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. |
$209,700±$30k 37% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Lowell 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 | $1,655 47% below U.S. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,478Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Jefferson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Lowell 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 | 14 photos → | 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.