What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (23% 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	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	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±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	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 92% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Jackson School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.