Compare towns

Jackson vs Strafford vs Sandwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

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).
Sandwich has the most people working from home (36.1%).

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.

MeasureJacksonStraffordSandwich
People
Population
897Lowest
1,372
1,757Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+26%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.5±2.5
56% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Lowest
32% above U.S.
63.6±2.8Highest
63% above U.S.
Sandwich and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
4.1%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
28.4%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
46.6%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,986±$46k
46% above U.S.
$110,833±$19kLowest
37% above U.S.
$140,694±$22kHighest
74% above U.S.
Sandwich 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
116% above U.S.
$431,300±$40kLowest
30% above U.S.
$437,700±$79k
32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,750±$1kHighest
24% above U.S.
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,679±$1k
19% above U.S.
Jackson and Sandwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,001
92% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$4,494Lowest
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
21.1%±59.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±41.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sandwich and Strafford 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.2%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.1%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandwich and Jackson 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 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.