What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).

Orange has the most kids (20.6% 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	Orange
People
Population	897Highest	320Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH	41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%	20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Jackson and Orange 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%	37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6%	4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
	Orange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kLowest 19% above NH	$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH
	Orange and Jackson 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	$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1k 17% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Highest 10% below NH	$5,132Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Jackson and Orange 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%	9.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 31% below NH	28 minHighest 5% above NH
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%	20.8%±8.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Jackson School District	—
High school 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.