Compare towns
Acton vs Dunbarton vs Sutton
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Dunbarton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
3,097 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Sutton 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% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
| Acton and Sutton 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. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
| Acton and Sutton 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. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$7,652Lowest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Acton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dunbarton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.