Compare towns
Lyman vs Mount Desert vs Ogunquit 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).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Mount Desert | Ogunquit | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,671 |
1,379Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2 20% above ME |
54.9±8.2 23% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.9±4.2Lowest 18% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lyman and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
63.5% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert 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 |
$92,813±$9k 24% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$522,100±$66k 76% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$334,300±$34kLowest 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
— | — |
| Mount Desert and Lyman 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 |
$3,512 16% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
84.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 133 in ME | — | — | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Mount Desert Public Schools | — | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.