What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (17.6% 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	Strafford
People
Population	897Lowest	4,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH	46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%	19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Jackson and Strafford 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%	40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Strafford 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	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH
	Strafford 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	$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH	$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Lowest 10% below NH	$6,086Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and Jackson 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%	8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 31% below NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson and Strafford 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	—	#73 of 120 in NH
School district	Jackson School District	Strafford 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.