Compare towns
Lyman vs Acton vs Minot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Minot has the shortest commute (25 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.
| Measure | Lyman | Acton | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
2,721Lowest |
2,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
49±6.1Lowest 9% 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Minot and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot and Lyman 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±$34k 13% above ME |
$294,900±$26kLowest about the ME average |
| 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±$522Highest 7% below ME |
— | $878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Lyman and Minot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Highest 11% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7Lowest 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 | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.