Compare towns

Meredith vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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.

MeasureMeredithWorcesterJackson
People
Population
1,467
831Lowest
1,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.3±4.6
40% above U.S.
47±2.7Lowest
21% 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%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
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%
53%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%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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±$16kHighest
6% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$77,375±$8k
4% below U.S.
Meredith and Jackson 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.
$271,100±$27kHighest
19% below U.S.
$235,400±$40k
29% below U.S.
Worcester 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.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
$1,139±$43Highest
19% below U.S.
Jackson and Worcester 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.
$4,421Highest
42% above U.S.
$4,165
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.1%±53.6
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
77.8%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jackson and Meredith 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%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
23% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
10.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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.