Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Putney
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%).
Lyman has the highest household income ($87k).
Putney 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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,612Highest |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,284±$14kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Lyman and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Highest 25% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Putney 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.