Compare towns
Acton vs Windham vs Lyman vs Minot
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Minot has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Windham | Lyman | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
594Lowest |
4,612Highest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
49±6.1 26% 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Minot 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.2Lowest 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minot 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 |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$95,655±$17kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Minot and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$294,900±$26kLowest 11% below 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 | — | — | $1,063±$522Highest 25% below U.S. |
$878±$801Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Minot 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
$2,602Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 16 |
| 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 | 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.