Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Ripton vs Whitefield
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 homeowners (96.1%).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Ripton | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,612Highest |
508Lowest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.9±5.2 33% 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitefield and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Whitefield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7% 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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,875±$10kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Ripton 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±$34k about the U.S. average |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$242,300±$24kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Lyman 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. |
— | $895±$126Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$2,366Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±6.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.