What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

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	Westfield	Jefferson
People
Population	536Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±19.9Lowest 13% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,500±$30kHighest 10% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Westfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Westfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S.	$867±$156Highest 39% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,388Highest 41% above U.S.	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westfield and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Westfield 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.