What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Alna	Jackson
People
Population	818Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±10.5Highest 9% below ME	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Jackson and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME	$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME	$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,667Highest 21% above ME	$2,651Lowest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 min 41% above ME	35 min 41% above ME
Work from home	16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.