Compare towns
Acton vs Dummer vs Stoddard vs Shapleigh
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 (18.2%).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Stoddard has the highest household income ($95k).
Shapleigh has the youngest population (median age 46.9).
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 | Stoddard | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
299Lowest |
1,072 |
2,976Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
53±4 36% above U.S. |
46.9±10Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shapleigh 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%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Stoddard 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% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Stoddard 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. |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,140±$9k 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard 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±$34k about the U.S. average |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$330,300±$20k about the U.S. average |
$356,000±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Shapleigh and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,349±$133Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Shapleigh and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$4,316Highest 38% above U.S. |
$2,603Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±61.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Shapleigh 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 | — | — | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | Stoddard School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.