Compare towns
Jackson vs Halifax vs Meredith
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 the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Meredith has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Halifax | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Highest |
847Lowest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$267,500±$21kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
$875±$154 38% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Halifax School District | — |
| High school 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.