Compare towns
Acton vs Gorham 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 affordable homes ($334k median).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Gorham | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
18,300Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below 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%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham 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 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
| Gorham and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,717 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Lyman 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.