What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most kids (23.8% 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	Dedham	Jackson
People
Population	1,656Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S.	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,442±$18kLowest 38% above 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±$33kLowest 7% above U.S.	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,422±$607Lowest about the U.S. average	$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	$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	21.1%±59.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and Dedham 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%	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4.3Lowest 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
School district	Dedham Public Schools	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.