What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most expensive homes ($407k median).

Jackson has the most affordable homes ($232k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Randolph	Jackson
People
Population	420Lowest	567Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+11.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.5±10.9Highest 48% above U.S.	37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	14.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jackson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Randolph and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,750±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.	$75,167±$19kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Randolph and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$57kHighest 22% above U.S.	$231,500±$16kLowest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S.	$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,269Highest 37% above U.S.	$2,651Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±53.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	19.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.3%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Randolph and Jackson 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.