Compare towns
Acton vs Bow vs Windham 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
8,335 |
16,038Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Windham 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%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% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 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 |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
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% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Bow School District | Windham School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.