Compare towns
Acton vs Berwick vs Mapleton 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 the most homeowners (96.1%).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Berwick | Mapleton | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
8,175Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 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% |
22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 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% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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 |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
| Berwick and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
| Berwick and Lyman 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 |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.