Compare towns

Bowdoin vs Perry 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 most expensive homes ($293k median).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

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.

MeasureBowdoinPerryLisbon
People
Population
3,188
744Lowest
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
ME: +2.6%
-9.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.3±10
about the ME average
45.5±11.4Highest
about the ME average
38.4±2.9Lowest
14% below ME
Perry 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%
24.1%±4.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±4
ME: 18.1%
Perry 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
ME: 22.4%
21%±6.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.2%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
Perry and Lisbon 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%
31.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Lisbon and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,239±$13kHighest
22% above ME
$82,056±$4k
10% above ME
$77,819±$9kLowest
4% above ME
Bowdoin and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
$196,400±$13kLowest
34% below ME
$258,300±$26k
13% below ME
Bowdoin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$979±$286
14% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
$3,132Lowest
3% above ME
$3,324
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.3%±100
ME: 48.4%
43.4%±14.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Lisbon and Perry 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%
4.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
ME: 74.3%
91.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1990
13 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
29% above ME
26 minLowest
6% above ME
29 min
17% above ME
Work from home
11.7%±7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
23.4%±11.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
18.1%±9.6
ME: 15.9%
Perry 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 Perry Public Schools Lisbon Public Schools
High school 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

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.