Compare towns

Middlesex vs Acton vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 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.

MeasureMiddlesexActonDummerston
People
Population
1,943Lowest
2,721Highest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
52.9±4.2Highest
36% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above 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
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.2%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
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+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$78,750±$15kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
$334,300±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
—
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$2,680Lowest
14% below U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Acton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
40 minHighest
53% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.2%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Acton Public Schools 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 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.