Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Upton
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 shortest commute (33 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
4,612 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Highest 25% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Upton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.