Compare towns
Lyman vs Upton vs Acton vs Dayton
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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dayton has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Upton | Acton | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612 |
8,189Highest |
2,721 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2 36% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5Lowest 8% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Dayton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dayton 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 25% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— | $1,215±$867Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dayton 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,872 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton Public Schools | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.