What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most affordable homes ($232k median).

Randolph has the most expensive homes ($407k 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	Randolph
People
Population	567Highest	420Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S.	57.5±10.9Highest 48% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	14.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jackson and Randolph 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%	31.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Randolph 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.	$101,750±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Randolph 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.	$407,000±$57kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S.	$1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 15% below U.S.	$4,269Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±53.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph 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%	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Randolph 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

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.