Compare towns
Lyman vs Exeter 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 most kids (15.2% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Exeter | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,093Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above 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%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 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%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
| Lyman and Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% 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±$522Highest 7% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— |
| Lyman and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 35% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | Acton Public Schools |
| High school 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.