Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith vs Sheldon vs Highland
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).
Meredith has the highest household income ($86k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Highland has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Meredith | Sheldon | Highland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695 |
1,467Lowest |
2,267Highest |
2,234 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.4±4.4 42% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Highland 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% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Highland and Sheldon 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. |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$63,846±$26kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Sheldon 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. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$255,000±$38k 23% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,215±$1k 14% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,373Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.3%±18.6 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | ELDRED CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | ELDRED JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.