Compare towns
Acton vs Dorset vs Jericho
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Jericho has the most affordable homes ($493k median).
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 | Dorset | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Dorset 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. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
| Acton and Jericho 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. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,318Lowest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Dorset 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| 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.