Compare towns
Acton vs Derry 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Derry | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
34,116Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Lyman 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Derry 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. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
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| 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.