Compare towns
Dedham vs Jackson vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Highest |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Dedham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Dedham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dedham Public Schools | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.