Compare towns
Acton vs Castle Hill 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%).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
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 | Castle Hill | Mapleton | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
281Lowest |
1,884 |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
| Castle Hill and Lyman 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% |
14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 5% above ME |
$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lyman 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 |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $950±$574 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Castle Hill 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 |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Castle Hill 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 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 |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Acton 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 | — | — | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school 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.