Compare towns
Jackson vs Sunapee vs Williston
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%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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.
| Measure | Jackson | Sunapee | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
3,416 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4 46% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Jackson 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Williston 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. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Sunapee 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Jackson 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jackson School District | Sunapee School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.