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Jackson vs Jamestown

34 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.3× in Jackson) and rent (+51% in Jackson).

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Jackson, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 5,048 people
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Jamestown, CAHomes around $400KCalifornia · 3,265 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

JacksonOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 69%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#270 for schools in CAof 574 towns Housing$435K typical home43% below the CA typical home All about Jackson →
JamestownHomes around $400K
Housing$400K typical home48% below the CA typical home SchoolsBetter than 35%of CA districts All about Jamestown →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker3.3×
Jackson is more of a job hub
Jackson 1.11Jamestown 0.34
Rent+51%
Rent runs higher in Jackson
Jackson $1,429Jamestown $944
Growth since 2010+6.6 pts
Jackson has grown faster since 2010
Jackson +7.9%Jamestown +1.3%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Jackson places higher on 13 of 19 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
CJacksonSafer than 27% of U.S. towns –JamestownNot graded
Schools
C+JacksonBetter than 44% of districts in the state C+JamestownBetter than 35% of districts in the state
Health
B+JacksonHealthier than 69% of U.S. towns C+JamestownHealthier than 42% of U.S. towns
13Jackson
5Jamestown

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 844 towns #10#698 Highest graduation rateSchools · 720 towns #186#512 Lowest depressionHealth · 844 towns #420#762 Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #259#581 Fewest smokersHealth · 844 towns #329#617 Best schoolsSchools · 574 towns #270#455 HealthiestHealth · 844 towns #360#586 Most remote workersWork · 801 towns #777#596

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Jackson’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Jackson$2,500/mo
Typical home $435K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,429/mo · Housing →
Jamestown$2,350/mo
Typical home $400K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $944/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Jackson and Jamestown.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
JacksonJamestown
Snow a year0″0″
January low40°F33°F
July high95°F93°F
Growing season (days)332d213d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st97th
Outdoors & history
JacksonJamestown
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land0.7%1.4%
Settled1848—
National Register places93
Archive photos12—
Community
JacksonJamestown
Library hours a week40 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

34 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JacksonCAJamestownCA
Jackson ↔ Jamestown34 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

JacksonJamestown
People
Population 5,048Highest 3,265Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.9%Highest CA: +6.1% +1.3%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 50.2±6.1Highest 32% above CA 47.3±12.8Lowest 25% above CA
Jackson and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.9%±4.4Highest CA: 22% 16.7%±6.5Lowest CA: 22%
Jackson and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 38%±7.1Highest CA: 15.7% 27.5%±6.4Lowest CA: 15.7%
Jackson and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 21%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 4.3%±3.3Highest CA: 7.6%
Jamestown and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $70,239±$18kHighest 29% below CA $57,276±$12kLowest 42% below CA
Jackson and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $442,700±$49kHighest 40% below CA $374,600±$32kLowest 49% below CA
Jackson and Jamestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,429±$151Highest 30% below CA $944±$242Lowest 54% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,632Lowest 49% below CA $2,794Highest 45% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.7%±20.3Lowest CA: 55.3% 69.5%±43.2Highest CA: 55.3%
Jamestown and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.9%Highest CA: 12% 6.1%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.5%Lowest CA: 55.9% 60.8%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than CA 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 30% below CA 20 minHighest 29% below CA
Work from home 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2% 7.6%±8.3Highest CA: 17.2%
Jamestown and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.3%Highest 3.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 39.3 miLowest 41.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.11Highest 0.34Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Sacramento (5%)Sonora (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JamestownFew work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 1.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 52.1Lowest 53.8Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #270 of 574 in CA#455 of 574 in CA
School district Amador County ROP · Amador County UnifiedJamestown Elementary
High school in town Argonaut HighNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 19.1 —
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Jamestown neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jamestown’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Jackson

M
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Martell180 people

Towns like Jackson

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Placerville10,762 people · $473K homes
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Big Bear Lake5,041 people · $577K homes
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Calistoga5,111 people
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Fort Bragg7,032 people · $535K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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