Compare towns
Dummer vs Acton vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dummer | Acton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
24,155Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 7% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.