Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Castleton vs Lisbon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

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.

MeasureBowdoinCastletonLisbon
People
Population
3,188Lowest
4,453
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±10Highest
14% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
38.4±2.9
about the U.S. average
Bowdoin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lisbon and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.2%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,239±$13kHighest
13% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$77,819±$9k
4% below U.S.
Bowdoin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,800±$71kHighest
12% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$258,300±$26k
22% below U.S.
Bowdoin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$979±$286Lowest
31% below U.S.
Castleton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,375Highest
8% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,324
7% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lisbon and Bowdoin 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 #28 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT #60 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 75/MSAD 75 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Lisbon Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Lisbon High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
15.8
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.