What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

Jefferson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.5%).

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	Wheelock	Jefferson
People
Population	717Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51±5.6Lowest 31% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Wheelock and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wheelock and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S.	$67,083±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,600±$37kHighest 43% below U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
	Wheelock and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S.	$3,602Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	21.1%±16Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Wheelock 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.