Compare towns
Chatham vs Orange vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
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 | Orange | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430 |
320Lowest |
897Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +26% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Orange 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% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Orange 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 |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
| Orange and Jackson 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 |
$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.