What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyman has the shortest commute (33 min average).

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Lyman	Acton
People
Population	4,612Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.8±2Highest 20% above ME	52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME
	Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	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+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	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	$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME	$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME
	Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME	$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME
	Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$522 7% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,717Highest 11% below ME	$2,680Lowest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 35% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lyman and Acton 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	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 57/MSAD 57	Acton Public Schools
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.