Compare towns
Dedham vs Ellsworth vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Ellsworth | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656 |
8,657Highest |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.