What stands out worked out from the figures below

Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

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	Embden	Jackson
People
Population	995Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jackson and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jackson and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME	$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average
	Jackson and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME	$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME
	Jackson and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$629±$12 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Lowest 41% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Jackson and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 34% above ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Embden and Jackson 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.