Compare towns
Chatham vs Marlborough vs Jackson vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the most renters (31.9% rent).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
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.
| Measure | Chatham | Marlborough | Jackson | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 430Lowest |
2,207Highest |
897 |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
46±9.2Lowest 6% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
50.3±11 16% above NH |
| Jackson and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Jackson and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$323 24% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,130±$62Lowest 24% below NH |
| Jackson and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Marlborough School District | Jackson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.