Compare towns
Acton vs Bar Harbor 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%).
Bar Harbor has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
Lyman has the most kids (15.2% under 18).
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 | Bar Harbor | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
5,244Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
49.2±5.9Lowest 10% above 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
11.9%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Lyman 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% |
68.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
10.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$77,180±$26kLowest 3% above 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±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
$538,400±$94kHighest 82% above ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,106±$351Highest about the ME average |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
| Bar Harbor and Lyman 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 |
$4,279Highest 41% above ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.6%±17.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Bar Harbor 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% |
10.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Bar Harbor and Lyman 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 | #2 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bar Harbor Public Schools · Mt Desert CSD | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Desert Island High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.