What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the highest household income ($75k).

Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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	Lowell
People
Population	567Highest	378Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jackson and Lowell 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%	31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	30%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.9%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lowell 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±$19kHighest about the ME average	$50,833±$31kLowest 32% below ME
	Jackson and Lowell 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	$209,700±$30kLowest 29% below ME
	Jackson and Lowell 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	$1,478Lowest 51% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	80%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lowell 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%	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1990Lowest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	31 minLowest 24% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Lowell 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.