Compare towns

Dummer vs Lyman vs Columbia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummer has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureDummerLymanColumbia
People
Population
299Lowest
4,612Highest
683
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
53.8±2Highest
38% above U.S.
51.8±10.1Lowest
33% above U.S.
Lyman and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±8.3Highest
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+
16.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±3.7Highest
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
$91,250±$21kHighest
13% above U.S.
$87,284±$14k
8% above U.S.
$57,917±$13kLowest
28% below U.S.
Dummer and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,200±$51k
27% below U.S.
$360,400±$44kHighest
8% above U.S.
$196,400±$29kLowest
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,063±$522Highest
25% below U.S.
$792±$333Lowest
44% 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
$2,898Highest
7% below U.S.
$2,717
13% below U.S.
$2,009Lowest
36% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
9.1%±95.8
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
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
6.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±6.7
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 Our Story 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.