What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ossipee has the most expensive homes ($326k median).

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	Ossipee
People
Population	567Lowest	4,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee 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 U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ossipee 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 7% below U.S.	$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Ossipee 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 30% below U.S.	$325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S.	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 15% below U.S.	$4,401Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	33 minLowest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.