What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has the most kids (15.2% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	South Eliot	Jackson
People
Population	4,203Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.5±8Lowest 43% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
	Jackson and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Eliot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S.	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S.	$1,750±$1kLowest 24% above U.S.
	South Eliot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Eliot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and South Eliot 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

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.