Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Lisbon vs Mapleton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Lisbon | Mapleton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
9,750Highest |
1,884Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mapleton 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 13% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 12% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $979±$286 31% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,375 8% above U.S. |
$3,324 7% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.