Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith vs Sheldon vs Lyme
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).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695 |
1,467Lowest |
2,267Highest |
2,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest 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. |
56.8±6.1 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Lyme 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% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Jackson 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% |
35.9%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% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme 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±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$81,400±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Meredith and Lyme 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. |
$234,700±$20k 29% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jackson 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. |
$838±$190 41% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,442Lowest 10% 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% |
32.7%±52 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Jackson 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.