Compare towns
Acton vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Lyman has the most kids (15.2% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,093Lowest |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Exeter 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 5% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% 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 | — | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
33 minLowest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest 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 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.