Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Lisbon vs Nelson
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 oldest population (median age 44.3).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,188 |
9,750Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Nelson 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Lisbon 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% |
16.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lisbon and Bowdoin 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson 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 12% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% 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% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | None in town |
| 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.