Compare towns
Wayne vs Sheldon vs Jay vs Jerusalem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Jerusalem has the most expensive homes ($321k 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 | Wayne | Sheldon | Jay | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033 |
2,267 |
471Lowest |
4,278Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$320,900±$59kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Jerusalem and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $870±$116Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,523Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±43.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jerusalem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jerusalem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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 | — |
| 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.