Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Gorham vs Lisbon vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Lisbon has the most renters (25.2% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Bowdoin | Gorham | Lisbon | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
18,300Highest |
9,750 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Gorham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Lisbon 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Gorham Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Lisbon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
15.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.