Ten-year-old Jane is a highly imaginative girl with a rich inner world and an occasionally fearful nature. She is deeply attached to her rented home on New Dollar Street and worries about her family's financial security when a real estate sign appears in the yard. She earnestly tries to follow rules, though her naïveté sometimes leads to comical misunderstandings with local authority figures.

A widow and the sole provider for the family, Mama works tirelessly as a respected seamstress in Cranbury. She is a patient, pragmatic woman who creatively stretches limited funds to provide her children with cultural advantages like dance lessons. She shields her family from the harsh realities of poverty while fostering a home filled with warmth and storytelling.

The eldest of the Moffat children, teenage Sylvie acts as a kind and responsible secondary caregiver. She manages the kitchen and household chores when illness strikes the family. Despite her participation in more mature activities like theater and summer camp, she happily joins in her younger siblings' mischievous games and pranks.

The teenage elder brother of the family, Joe takes on traditionally masculine chores like buying coal and fueling the fire. He is earnest and shy, actively despising his mandatory dance lessons and preferring to stay out of the spotlight. His youthful overconfidence sometimes leads him to take on responsibilities he cannot handle, resulting in innocent blunders.

The youngest of the Moffat children, five-year-old Rufus is an eager, active boy excited to start kindergarten. He wants to be perceived as grown-up and frequently models his behavior after his older siblings. Perceptive and highly imaginative, he collects stray teeth from the yard and dreams of becoming a train engineer.

A local neighborhood boy who acts as a bully toward the other children in Cranbury. He enjoys provoking others, pulling mean pranks, and instilling fear with lies. His arrogant demeanor masks a highly cowardly nature.

A stubborn five-year-old boy in Rufus's kindergarten class. His intense hatred of the classroom causes him to run away on the first day, leading him to naively board a freight train and inadvertently drag Rufus into a dangerous situation.

The tall, heavily-mustached head of the Cranbury police force who lives in a neat house on the same street. Though he appears intimidating in his formal uniform, he is actually a gentle, kind-hearted neighbor who wants to protect the local children.

The new school superintendent in Cranbury. He is a formal, polite man who wears elegant suits, a bowler hat, and a monocle. He expects children to follow the rules and takes an active, hands-on role in enforcing school attendance.

The local dentist and the owner of the yellow house where the Moffats live. His decision to put the property up for sale creates a looming sense of uncertainty for the renting family.

The local dance instructor in Cranbury who teaches all the neighborhood children. She runs a strict class but appreciates the hard work of her students and the beautiful costumes provided by the community.

A tired man driving a route through Cranbury. He allows the children to hold the reins while he naps in the back of his wagon, entirely unaware of their lack of driving experience.

The youngest daughter of a family interested in buying the yellow house. She is highly persistent, known for constantly ringing doorbells and simply crawling through open windows if her knocks go unanswered.

Hughie's older brother and a local boy in Cranbury. He attempts to manage his stubborn younger sibling's tantrums but is ultimately unsuccessful in getting him to behave.

The local physician in Cranbury. He correctly diagnoses illnesses and enforces public health rules, actively placing a warning sign on the house to ensure neighborhood safety.