What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clifton has the oldest population (median age 52.7).

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	Clifton	Jackson
People
Population	1,111Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
Kids under 18	16%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jackson and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Clifton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Clifton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,313±$16kLowest 6% below ME	$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average
	Jackson and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME	$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME
	Jackson and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME
	Clifton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,838Lowest 39% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Clifton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 19% above ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Clifton 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.