Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lisbon has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 about the ME average |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Hope and Bowdoin 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Hope and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
| Hope and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 11% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | — | — | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.