Compare towns
Lyman vs Sutton 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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Sutton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
9,452Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
52.8%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% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Sutton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 13% below U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Sutton | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.