What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).

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	Columbia	Lyman
People
Population	683Lowest	4,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±10.1Lowest 33% above U.S.	53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S.
	Lyman and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Columbia and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.1%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Columbia and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	25.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S.	$87,284±$14kHighest 8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$29kLowest 41% below U.S.	$360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S.	$1,063±$522Highest 25% below U.S.
	Lyman and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S.	$2,717Highest 13% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyman and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lyman and Columbia 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	—	#40 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.