Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Union 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%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Appleton | Union | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Acton 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% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Appleton 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 ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton 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 |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Union 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 |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% 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 | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | — | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.