Compare towns
Acton vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Lyman has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Jay | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,657Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 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% |
17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Acton 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% 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 | — | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Jay 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 |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest 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% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 73 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.