Compare towns
Jefferson vs Newark 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
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Newark | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,226 |
727Lowest |
1,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Newark and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23k 31% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24kHighest 31% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,602Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,771Highest 21% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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.