Compare towns
Buxton vs Lisbon vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
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 | Buxton | Lisbon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Lowest |
9,750 |
19,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
| Buxton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lisbon and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
| Windham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
| Windham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
| Buxton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 13% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| 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.