Compare towns
Lyman vs Acton vs Jefferson
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Acton has the highest household income ($79k).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).
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 | Acton | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 464Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Jefferson 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% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest 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% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| 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±$66k 6% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| 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±$81Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,981 28% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Jefferson 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 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.