Compare towns
Acton vs Townshend vs Windham 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 the most homeowners (96.1%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k 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 | Townshend | Windham | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
1,538 |
594Lowest |
4,612Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.8±2 38% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 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 |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Windham 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±$34k about the U.S. average |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,074±$80Highest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Townshend 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. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Townshend 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.