Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Nottingham
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 the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Lyman has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Lyman | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,612 |
5,357Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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% |
26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham 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 |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
$7,319Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Nottingham 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Nottingham School District |
| 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 |
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.