Compare towns

Jackson 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).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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.

MeasureJacksonWardsboroMeredith
People
Population
1,695Highest
820Lowest
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.
51.6±7.3Lowest
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%
18.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Wardsboro 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%
27.4%±3.1Lowest
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%
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%
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.
$62,000±$6kLowest
23% below U.S.
$85,938±$16kHighest
6% above U.S.
Meredith and Jackson 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.
$299,300±$47kHighest
10% below U.S.
$230,600±$24kLowest
31% below U.S.
Wardsboro 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.
$1,479±$224Highest
5% above U.S.
$794±$175Lowest
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,165
34% above U.S.
$4,345Highest
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%
54.5%±58
U.S.: 51.1%
53.1%±53.6Lowest
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%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
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.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±4.3Lowest
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

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.