Compare towns
Acton vs Addison vs Sumner vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Addison has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sumner has the most kids (17.2% under 18).
Lyman has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Addison | Sumner | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,045 |
845Lowest |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME |
54.2±3.9 21% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
| Sumner and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
19.6% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$50,524±$8kLowest 32% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$163,500±$28k 45% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$807Lowest 21% below ME |
— | $1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±47.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Sumner 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 | — | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 10 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.