Compare towns
Lyman vs Fairfield vs Alfred
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Fairfield | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
6,519Highest |
3,125Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
43.1±4Lowest 4% below ME |
44.9±5.3 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.4%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Alfred 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Fairfield 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 |
$64,101±$11kLowest 14% below ME |
$82,321±$18k 10% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred 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 |
$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$342,300±$38k 15% above ME |
| Lyman and Alfred 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 |
$1,001±$101Lowest 12% below ME |
$1,035±$432 9% below ME |
| Lyman and Alfred 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 |
$2,217Lowest 27% below ME |
$3,543Highest 17% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
82.2%±29.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alfred and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Fairfield 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 | #47 of 133 in ME | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3 |
— |
| 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.