Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bow | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Bow and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bow School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.