What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townshend has the most kids (12% 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	Townshend
People
Population	897Lowest	1,538Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Lowest 43% above U.S.
	Jackson and Townshend 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%	12%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Townshend 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%	52.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and Townshend 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.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
	Jackson and Townshend 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.	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Jackson and Townshend 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.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
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.