Compare towns
Unity vs Appleton vs Dedham vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Unity | Appleton | Dedham | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
1,360 |
1,656Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Unity School District | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | — |
| 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 | 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.