Compare towns
Lyman vs Jay vs Hollis
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Jay | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Lowest |
4,657 |
4,872Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Jay and Hollis 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$95,950±$24kHighest 28% above ME |
| Hollis 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±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$338,900±$27k 14% above ME |
| Lyman and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,372±$293Highest 20% above ME |
| Hollis and Lyman 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 |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hollis and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Hollis 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 73 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.