Compare towns
Jefferson vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,226Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheldon and Meredith 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,602 15% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,630Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.