What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blaine has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Blaine	Jackson
People
Population	706Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.3±17Highest 3% above ME	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
	Blaine and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Blaine and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±7.3Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Blaine and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,707±$24kHighest 8% above ME	$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average
	Blaine and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	—	$231,500±$16k 22% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$691±$303Highest 39% below ME	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME
	Blaine and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Lowest 41% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Blaine and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	6.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Blaine 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

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.