What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

Ashland has the most kids (21.4% 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	Ashland
People
Population	897Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Jackson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Jackson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Jackson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Highest 10% below NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ashland and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 31% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Jackson School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.