Compare towns
Durham vs Bowdoin vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Durham | Bowdoin | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
3,188Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
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 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Durham and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
$258,300±$26kLowest 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 | — | — | $979±$286 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest 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 | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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 Our Story | 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.