Compare towns
Lyman vs Millis vs Alfred
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Millis | Alfred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
8,888Highest |
3,125Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±3 19% above U.S. |
44.9±5.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Millis 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millis 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±$14k 8% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$342,300±$38kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 25% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Millis and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$3,543 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Millis 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyman and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #74 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Millis | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.