Compare towns
Acton vs Dummerston vs Putney
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%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Dummerston | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.