What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyman	Acton
People
Population	464Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Lowest 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	12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,042±$17kLowest 12% below U.S.	$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average
	Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,100±$66kLowest 6% below U.S.	$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average
	Acton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$81 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,981Highest 28% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±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	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.