Compare towns
Jackson vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Meredith has the most kids (17% under 18).
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 | Wells | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,695Highest |
1,148Lowest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% 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% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.