Compare towns
Jackson vs Jay 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Meredith has the most kids (17% 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 | Jay | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Highest |
471Lowest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Jackson 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Jackson 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% 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±$40kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Jay 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. |
— | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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.