Compare towns
Meredith vs Andover vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most kids (17% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Meredith | Andover | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,467 |
616Lowest |
1,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Andover and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,600±$24kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
| Andover and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630Lowest 16% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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.

