What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lagrange	Jackson
People
Population	709Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.9±13.8Highest about the ME average	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
	Lagrange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lagrange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±6.9Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Lagrange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lagrange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,417±$14kLowest 22% below ME	$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average
	Jackson and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME	$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$831±$151Highest 27% below ME	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$869Lowest 71% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lagrange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 45% above ME	35 minLowest 41% above ME
Work from home	8.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.