Compare towns
New Castle vs Dedham 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
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% 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.
| Measure | New Castle | Dedham | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 827Lowest |
25,237Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5 56% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 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 | $176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle and Jackson 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | New Castle School District | Dedham | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.