What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most people working from home (15.3%).

Steep Falls has the most kids (22.9% 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	Steep Falls
People
Population	567Lowest	1,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+7.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average
	Steep Falls and Jackson 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%	22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Steep Falls 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%	9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jackson and Steep Falls 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 ME: 36.2%	14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Steep Falls 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	$80,280±$33kHighest 7% above ME
	Steep Falls 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	$243,400±$31kHighest 18% below ME
	Steep Falls and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME	$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME
	Steep Falls and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 13% below ME	$3,273Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Steep Falls 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%	7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	80.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	31 minLowest 25% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Steep Falls 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.