Compare towns
Jay vs Dedham vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Middletown Springs has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
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 | Jay | Dedham | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,656Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$262,200±$24k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,208±$438Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$4,595Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Dedham Public Schools | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.