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 –MartellNot graded

Schools

C+JacksonBetter than 44% of districts in the state –MartellNot graded

Health

B+JacksonHealthier than 69% of U.S. towns –MartellNot graded

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

JacksonMartell

Snow a year0″0″

January low40°F —

July high95°F —

Growing season (days)332d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st 86th

Outdoors & history

JacksonMartell

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land0.7%—

Settled1848 —

National Register places9 —

Archive photos12 —

Community

JacksonMartell

Library hours a week40 hrs —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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.

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.

Only big differences vs California average

JacksonMartell

People

Population 5,048Highest 180Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.9% CA: +6.1% —

Median age 50.2±6.1Highest 32% above CA 43.7±16.6Lowest 15% above CA

Jackson and Martell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 16.9%±4.4Lowest CA: 22% 22.8%±26.2Highest CA: 22%

Martell and Jackson 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% 11.7%±24.9Lowest CA: 15.7%

Jackson and Martell 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% 10.2%Lowest CA: 37.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±2.1Highest CA: 7.6% 0%±11Lowest CA: 7.6%

Jackson and Martell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $70,239±$18k 29% below CA —

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $442,700±$49k 40% below CA —

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,429±$151 30% below CA —

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,632 49% below CA —

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.7%±20.3Highest CA: 55.3% 0%±100Lowest CA: 55.3%

Jackson and Martell 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% 3.3%Lowest CA: 12%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 60.5%Highest CA: 55.9% 46.2%Lowest CA: 55.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than CA 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than CA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 30% below CA 35 minHighest 21% above CA

Work from home 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2% 3.6%±7.8Highest CA: 17.2%

Martell 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 3.1%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 39.3 mi 39.3 mi

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.11Lowest 9.35Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Sacramento (5%)Sacramento (8%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others 3% work in Martell8% work in Jackson

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 52.1Highest 18.8Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #270 of 574 in CA—

School district Amador County ROP · Amador County Unified—

High school in town Argonaut High—

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.

Martell neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Martell’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Jackson and Martell

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Jackson

+ Compare

Placerville10,762 people · $473K homes

+ Compare

Big Bear Lake5,041 people · $577K homes

+ Compare

Calistoga5,111 people

+ Compare

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.

Jackson vs Martell

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Jackson and Martell share a border

Grades and rankings, side by side

What daily life feels like in each

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Jackson and Martell

Towns like Jackson

Post to Jackson

Check your email