Compare towns
Jefferson vs Whiting 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%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
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 | Whiting | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,226 |
532Lowest |
1,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.9±5.2 39% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Meredith 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. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,602Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,630 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±53.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| 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.