Compare towns
Dummerston vs Acton vs Middlesex vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Middlesex has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Monkton has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Dummerston | Acton | Middlesex | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
24,155Highest |
1,943Lowest |
1,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$119,688±$28k 48% above U.S. |
| Acton and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$379,900±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,887 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monkton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Middlesex 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acton-Boxborough | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.