Compare towns
Jackson vs Stratton vs Wardsboro 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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Wardsboro has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,695Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
51.6±7.3 33% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1 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% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jackson and Meredith 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. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| Stratton 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. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
$3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Wardsboro 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wardsboro and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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.