Compare towns
Lyman vs Appleton vs Acton vs Dayton
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 people working from home (18.9%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Acton | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,721 |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below 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% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Appleton 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% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Appleton 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 |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton 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±$44k 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Dayton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
| Dayton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 11% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Acton Public Schools | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.