Compare towns
Acton vs Windham vs Wakefield 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Windham | Wakefield | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721 |
594Lowest |
5,405Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 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 |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14k 8% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | — | — | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$2,717 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | — | Wakefield 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 | 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.