Compare towns
Lyman vs Mapleton vs Penobscot 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 expensive homes ($360k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Penobscot | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
| Lyman and Penobscot 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Acton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 17% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$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±$522 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Penobscot 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 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 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.