Compare towns
Lyman vs Ware 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 highest household income ($87k).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Ware | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
10,048Highest |
2,721Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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 8% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% 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±$522Highest 25% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Lyman and Ware 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. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyman and Acton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Ware | Acton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.