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Jackson vs Avoca

117 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (24.3× in Jackson) and average commute (24 min in Jackson).

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Jackson, NEKnown for its schoolsNebraska · 273 people

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Avoca, NEA small town of 190Nebraska · 190 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

JacksonKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 83%of NE districts All about Jackson →

AvocaA small town of 190

Quiet strengthsAvoca doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Avoca →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker24.3×

Jackson is more of a job hub

Jackson 0.73Avoca 0.03

Average commute24 min

Jackson has the shorter commute

Avoca 42 minJackson 18 min

Typical home built37 yrs

Avoca’s homes are older

Jackson 1975Avoca 1938

Street grid+93%

Avoca has the more walkable street grid

Avoca 89.6Jackson 46.5

Property tax bill+26%

Tax bills are bigger in Jackson

Jackson $2,238Avoca $1,775

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $390 more a month in Jackson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Jackson$2,010/mo

Typical home $325K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.14% · or rent about $629/mo · Housing →

Avoca$1,620/mo

Typical home $257K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.29% · or rent about $867/mo · Housing →

The difference: $390 a month, about $4,600 a year, between Jackson and Avoca.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Nebraska ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

A−JacksonBetter than 83% of districts in the state –AvocaNot graded

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

JacksonAvoca

Snow a year36″33″

January low10°F 14°F

July high85°F 86°F

Growing season (days)159d 175d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st 68th

Outdoors & history

JacksonAvoca

Settled—1882

Archive photos3 2

Famous people born here—2

Community

JacksonAvoca

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

117 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JacksonNE AvocaNE

Jackson ↔ Avoca117 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Nebraska average

JacksonAvoca

People

Population 273Highest 190Lowest

Median age 39.6±35Lowest 6% above NE 41±11.9Highest 10% above NE

Avoca and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 39.6%±7.8Highest NE: 24.5% 32.1%±9.8Lowest NE: 24.5%

Jackson and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 13.9%±3.5Lowest NE: 16.7% 16.8%±8.8Highest NE: 16.7%

Avoca and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 14%Highest NE: 34.6% 10.6%Lowest NE: 34.6%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±3.9Lowest NE: 6.6% 2.6%±2.9Highest NE: 6.6%

Avoca and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $51,250±$39kLowest 33% below NE $66,563±$30kHighest 13% below NE

Avoca and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $196,900±$40kHighest 17% below NE $137,500±$29kLowest 42% below NE

Jackson and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $629±$62Lowest 41% below NE $867±$416Highest 19% below NE

Avoca and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,238Highest 37% below NE $1,775Lowest 50% below NE

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100 NE: 45.1% 0%±100 NE: 45.1%

Below poverty line 5.1%Lowest NE: 10.6% 11.4%Highest NE: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 82.8%Lowest NE: 66.5% 87.3%Highest NE: 66.5%

Typical home builtmedian year 1975Highest same as NE 1938Lowest 37 yrs older than NE

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 6% below NE 42 minHighest 117% above NE

Work from home 7.6%±8.1Highest NE: 11% 6.7%±9.2Lowest NE: 11%

Jackson and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 2.7%Highest 0%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 27.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.73Highest 0.03Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Sioux City (33%)Lincoln (43%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AvocaFew work in Jackson

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 46.5Lowest 89.6Highest

Schools

School district PONCA PUBLIC SCHOOLS—

High school in town None in town—

Nebraska average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Avoca neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Avoca’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Jackson and Avoca

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Jackson

Brule346 people · $131K homes

Pebble Township424 people · $169K homes

Glenvil Township390 people · $167K homes

Homer446 people · $163K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Nebraska towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.