Compare towns
Meredith vs Walden vs Jackson vs Hebron
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Hebron has the most affordable homes ($207k median).
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 | Walden | Jackson | Hebron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,467 |
1,037Lowest |
1,695 |
1,751Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6 40% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
52.2±4.2 34% 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Hebron 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.8 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Hebron 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. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$73,205±$4kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Walden 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±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$206,800±$26kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Walden and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,055±$120 25% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Hebron 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. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.7%±67.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.