What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most kids (21% 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	Townsend
People
Population	897Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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 46% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Jackson and Townsend 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.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Townsend 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	—	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Jackson School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
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.