Compare towns
Lyman vs Orange vs Acton
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 most expensive homes ($360k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
Acton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Orange | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
320Lowest |
2,721 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±9.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange 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 8% above U.S. |
$118,750±$39kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Orange 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 8% above U.S. |
$302,600±$35kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
| 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 25% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 13% below U.S. |
$5,132Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.8%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Lyman 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 | — | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.