What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).

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	Jackson	Alna
People
Population	567Lowest	818Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	40.7±10.5Highest 9% below ME
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jackson and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average	$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME	$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME	$1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 13% below ME	$3,667Highest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 min 41% above ME	35 min 41% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.