What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

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