What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($210k median).

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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	Lowell	Jefferson
People
Population	378Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.5±8.6Lowest 43% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lowell and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,833±$31kLowest 37% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$209,700±$30kLowest 37% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,478Lowest 53% below U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Lowell 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

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.