Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith vs Walden
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 most kids (17% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Highest |
1,467 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% 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% |
17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest 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% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden 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±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Meredith 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. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Walden 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. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Walden 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.