Compare towns
Acton vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Lee | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,576 |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Lee and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,063±$522 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.