Compare towns
Acton vs Dummer vs Lyman vs Ossipee
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 homeowners (96.1%).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Dummer | Lyman | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
299Lowest |
4,612Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
50±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Dummer 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% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Lyman 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 |
$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Ossipee 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 |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #40 of 133 in ME | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.