Compare towns

Jackson vs Durham vs Chatham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureJacksonDurhamChatham
People
Population
897
10,681Highest
430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+26%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
—
Median age
60.5±2.5Highest
40% above NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
48.3±8.6
12% above NH
Kids under 18
4.1%±4.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±7.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
28.4%±6.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
26.5%±10
NH: 20.1%
Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.7%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
38.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±3.4Lowest
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.8%±3.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,986±$46kHighest
19% above NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$66,042±$19kLowest
33% below NH
Jackson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$719,300±$109kHighest
79% above NH
$498,000±$45k
24% above NH
$362,900±$42kLowest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,750±$1kHighest
17% above NH
$1,302±$211Lowest
13% below NH
—
Jackson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,001
10% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$3,690Lowest
45% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
21.1%±59.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
33.3%±100
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
8.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
31% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
36 minHighest
33% above NH
Work from home
22.2%±10.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
7.3%±5.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Jackson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #9 of 120 in NH —
School district Jackson School District — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.