Compare towns
Acton vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Boxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Acton | Brattleboro | Dummerston | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
12,122 |
2,090Lowest |
5,496 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
| Acton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Dummerston 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #33 of 70 in VT | — | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.