Compare towns
Cambridge vs Middlesex vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering CambridgeCambridge
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most renters (26.1% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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.
| Measure | Cambridge | Middlesex | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,262Highest |
1,943 |
1,695Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.2 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.3%±6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cambridge and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,111 64% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.