Compare towns
Acton vs Dummer vs Orange
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 expensive homes ($334k median).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Dummer | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
299Lowest |
320 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±9.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$118,750±$39kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Orange and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$302,600±$35k 9% below U.S. |
| Acton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$5,132Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.8%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.