Compare towns
Acton vs Lyman vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyman has the highest household income ($87k).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Ware | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
4,612 |
10,048Highest |
2,157Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest 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. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Whitefield 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%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.7%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% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$87,284±$14kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$73,875±$10k 8% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Acton 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$242,300±$24kLowest 27% 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$895±$126Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Ware 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. |
$4,237Highest 36% 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% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±22.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest 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% |
72.3%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. |
1960Lowest 20 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. |
28 minLowest 8% above 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% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±6.8 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Ware | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.