Compare towns
Lyman vs Ogunquit vs Palermo vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k median).
Acton has the most homeowners (96.1%).
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 | Ogunquit | Palermo | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,473 |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2 20% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Lyman 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$78,750±$15kLowest 5% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Palermo 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME |
$334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
— | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
— |
| Palermo 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,680 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Palermo 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 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 | — | RSU 12 | Acton Public Schools |
| High school 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.



