Compare towns
Lyman vs Canton vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k median).
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 | Canton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
24,748Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton 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 8% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 13% below U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Lyman 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.