What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Patten
People
Population	567Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jackson and Patten 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%	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jackson and Patten 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	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME
	Jackson and Patten 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	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Highest 45% below ME	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Highest 13% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Patten 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.