Compare towns
Jackson vs Sutton vs Waterville Valley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Sutton | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
2,239Highest |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
| Waterville Valley 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Waterville Valley 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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±$46k 19% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$105,625±$50kLowest 7% above NH |
| Sutton 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 |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$562,500±$193k 40% above NH |
| Jackson and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
| Jackson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 10% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$5,745Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Waterville Valley and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jackson School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Waterville Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.