What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most kids (12.4% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Ashfield	Jackson
People
Population	1,893Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Lowest 51% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
	Jackson and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 20% above U.S.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Lowest 67% above U.S.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashfield and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Mohawk Trail	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.