Compare towns
Lyman vs Readfield vs Acton vs Casco
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Casco has the most people working from home (26.6%).
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 | Readfield | Acton | Casco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
2,651Lowest |
2,721 |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
48.1±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
52±3.3 16% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Casco 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Casco 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±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$69,313±$19kLowest 7% below ME |
| Lyman and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20kLowest 10% above ME |
$334,300±$34k 13% above ME |
$355,500±$58k 20% above ME |
| Lyman and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
— | $1,395±$184Highest 22% above ME |
| Casco and Readfield 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$2,680Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,085 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.7%±35.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 35% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.6%±10Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Casco and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 38 | Acton Public Schools | RSU 61/MSAD 61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.