Compare towns
Acton vs Sumner vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Lyman has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Sumner | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721 |
845Lowest |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
53.8±2 20% above ME |
| Sumner 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 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 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±$15k 5% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| 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 13% above ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
| 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 7% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 minLowest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Sumner 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 | RSU 10 | 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 |
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.