Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Mount Desert
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%).
Lyman has the most kids (15.2% under 18).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lyman | Mount Desert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,612Highest |
1,671Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Lyman 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% |
15.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Lyman and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mount Desert 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mount Desert 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 5% above ME |
$87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME |
| Mount Desert 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 13% above ME |
$360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
| Mount Desert 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 |
$2,717 11% below ME |
$3,512Highest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Desert 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Mount Desert Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.