Compare towns
Bowdoin vs Mapleton vs Durham vs Lisbon
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Durham | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,188 |
1,884Lowest |
4,262 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Durham 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Durham 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Durham 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Durham 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Durham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $979±$286Highest 14% below ME |
| Lisbon and Mapleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Durham 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 05 | 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 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.