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Ada vs Jackson

264 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (8× in Ada) and street grid (2.6× in Ada).

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Ada, MNOne of the safest townsMinnesota · 1,833 people
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Jackson, MNKnown for its schoolsMinnesota · 3,287 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

AdaOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 94%of U.S. towns we grade Housing$181K typical home48% below the MN typical home HistorySettled in 18743 places on the National Register All about Ada →
JacksonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts Housing$207K typical home41% below the MN typical home HealthHealthier than 68%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Jackson →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails8×
Ada has more miles of trail
Ada 0.8 miJackson 0.1 mi
Street grid2.6×
Ada has the more walkable street grid
Ada 108Jackson 41.9
Jobs per worker+71%
Jackson is more of a job hub
Jackson 1.49Ada 0.87
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $150 more a month in Jackson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Ada$1,110/mo
Typical home $181K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.10% · or rent about $746/mo · Housing →
Jackson$1,270/mo
Typical home $207K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.03% · or rent about $752/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Jackson and Ada.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
AAdaSafer than 94% of U.S. towns –JacksonNot graded
Schools
–AdaNot graded B+JacksonBetter than 72% of districts in the state
Health
B−AdaHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns B+JacksonHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
AdaJackson
Snow a year41″49″
January low-1°F5°F
July high82°F81°F
Growing season (days)143d153d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)31st58th
Outdoors & history
AdaJackson
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%1.3%
Settled18741856
National Register places32
Archive photos66
Famous people born here510
Community
AdaJackson
Library hours a week31 hrs43 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

264 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

AdaMNJacksonMN
Ada ↔ Jackson264 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

AdaJackson
People
Population 1,833Lowest 3,287Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.9%Highest MN: +7.6% +0.7%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 39.8±3.4Lowest about the MN average 42.2±3.3Highest 9% above MN
Jackson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.3%±2.4Highest MN: 22.9% 23%±3.8Lowest MN: 22.9%
Ada and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.5%±3.6Lowest MN: 17.3% 21.7%±4.3Highest MN: 17.3%
Jackson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.9%Lowest MN: 39.4% 31.3%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.3%±2.9Highest MN: 5.8% 3.6%±1.9Lowest MN: 5.8%
Ada and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $64,091±$14kLowest 28% below MN $70,223±$10kHighest 21% below MN
Jackson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $137,800±$20kHighest 58% below MN $128,500±$22kLowest 61% below MN
Ada and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $746±$110Lowest 42% below MN $752±$152Highest 41% below MN
Jackson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,511Highest 55% below MN $1,323Lowest 61% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.2%±15.2Lowest MN: 48.1% 43.4%±15.5Highest MN: 48.1%
Jackson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 16.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 11.8%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 66.3%Lowest MN: 72.2% 67%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1963Highest 16 yrs older than MN 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 30% below MN 16 minHighest 28% below MN
Work from home 3.3%±2.2Lowest MN: 17.6% 8%±3.8Highest MN: 17.6%
Jackson and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 37.5%Lowest 43.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.8 miHighest 9.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.87Lowest 1.49Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Fargo (10%)Lakefield (5%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JacksonFew work in Ada
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 1.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 6Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 108Highest 41.9Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#151 of 230 in MN
School district Ada-Borup-West Public SchoolsRegion 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop · Jackson County Central School Dist.
High school in town Ada-Borup-West SecondaryJackson County Central Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school 12.8Lowest 15.9Highest
Minnesota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Ada neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ada’s Town Square.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Ada and Jackson

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Towns like Ada

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Preston1,362 people · $186K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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