Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Shapleigh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Shapleigh has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,612Highest |
2,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
46.9±10Lowest 5% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Shapleigh 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 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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 ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Lyman 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 |
$88,140±$9kHighest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh 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±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$356,000±$21k 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,349±$133Highest 18% above ME |
| Shapleigh and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
$2,603Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±61.5Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
33 minLowest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
13%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | 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 | 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.