What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% 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	Strafford	Jackson
People
Population	1,372Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.