What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Freedom	Jackson
People
Population	670Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±2.7Highest 10% below ME	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
	Freedom and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Freedom and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Freedom and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jackson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,861±$12kLowest 13% below ME	$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average
	Jackson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME	$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME
	Jackson and Freedom 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	$2,328Lowest 23% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Freedom and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 29% above ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Freedom 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.