Compare towns
Jackson vs Montpelier 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).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Montpelier | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695 |
8,014Highest |
1,467Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% 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% |
17.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Montpelier 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% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest 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% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Montpelier 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. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,165 34% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — |
| High school in town | — | Montpelier High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.