What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

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	Exeter
People
Population	567Lowest	1,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Exeter and Jackson 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%	15%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Exeter 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	$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME
	Exeter 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±$16kHighest 22% below ME	$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME	$995±$386Highest 13% below ME
	Exeter and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Highest 13% below ME	$1,602Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Exeter 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%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 41% above ME	35 minHighest 43% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Exeter 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.