Compare towns
Alfred vs Poland vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Alfred | Poland | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Lowest |
5,954Highest |
4,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Poland and Lyman 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 |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
| Lyman and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below 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 |
$1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
| Poland and Lyman 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 |
$2,774 9% below ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | #81 of 133 in ME | #40 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 16 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.