Compare towns
Acton vs Stark 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%).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Lyman has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Stark | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
419Lowest |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
53.8±2 38% above U.S. |
| Stark and Lyman 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% |
14.1%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyman and Stark 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% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark 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% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$87,284±$14kHighest 8% above 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 |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above 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±$522 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 14% below U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,717Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest 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 | Stark School District | 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.