Compare towns
Acton vs Brookfield 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 people working from home (18.2%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
567 |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7 49% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Brookfield 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% |
36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$81,406±$31kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,042±$17kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Brookfield 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±$34k about the U.S. average |
$428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$311,100±$66kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,147±$81 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,981 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 58.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Lyman 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Brookfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.