What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lake Arrowhead has the most kids (26.9% 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	Lake Arrowhead
People
Population	567Lowest	3,322Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Highest 16% below ME	33±2.4Lowest 26% below ME
	Jackson and Lake Arrowhead 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%	26.9%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lake Arrowhead and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	7.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	26.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lake Arrowhead 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	$98,654±$9kHighest 32% above ME
	Lake Arrowhead 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	$267,300±$19kHighest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME	$2,288±$327Highest 101% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Highest 13% below ME	$2,286Lowest 25% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±36.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Jackson and Lake Arrowhead 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%	2.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Lowest 16 yrs newer than ME	1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 41% above ME	39 minHighest 57% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Lake Arrowhead 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.