What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).

Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alfred	Lyman
People
Population	3,125Lowest	4,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±5.3Lowest about the ME average	53.8±2Highest 20% above ME
Kids under 18	17.7%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1%	15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,321±$18kLowest 10% above ME	$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME
	Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,300±$38kLowest 15% above ME	$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME
	Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,035±$432Lowest 9% below ME	$1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME
	Lyman and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,543Highest 17% above ME	$2,717Lowest 11% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4%	37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Alfred and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9% ME: 10.7%	9% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#74 of 133 in ME	#40 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.