Compare towns
Lyman vs Brownfield vs Acton
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 shortest commute (33 min average).
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Lyman | Brownfield | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,830Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
52.9±4.2 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.3Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
25.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$60,889±$5kLowest 19% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 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 |
$287,500±$36kLowest 3% below ME |
$334,300±$34k 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±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
— |
| Brownfield and Lyman 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 |
$2,976Highest about the ME average |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Brownfield 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
87.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 35% above ME |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
40 min 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5 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 | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.