Compare towns
Acton vs Middlesex vs Lyman
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Middlesex | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,943Lowest |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Acton 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lyman 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.