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 (+9.2%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).

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.

MeasureActonDummerstonPutney
People
Population
2,721Highest
2,090Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.9±4.2Highest
36% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Acton and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Putney 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%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Acton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.3
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
$78,750±$15kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Putney 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
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
Dummerston and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,680Lowest
14% below U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Acton and Putney 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%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
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
40 minHighest
53% above U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
18.2%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 — #32 of 70 in VT
School district Acton Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.