Compare towns
Orange vs Jackson vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k median).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Sharon has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Orange | Jackson | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 320Lowest |
897Highest |
442 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
| Jackson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$113,125±$19kLowest 14% above NH |
| Orange and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$475,900±$38k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,458±$1kLowest about the NH average |
| Jackson and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sharon and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jackson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.