What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Lisbon has the most people working from home (10.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellsworth	Lisbon
People
Population	8,657Highest	1,583Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S.
	Lisbon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% below U.S.	$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Ellsworth and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$22kHighest 27% below U.S.	$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S.
	Lisbon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.	$4,691Highest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lisbon and Ellsworth 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	#63 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Ellsworth Public Schools	Lisbon Regional School District
High school in town	Ellsworth High School	Lisbon Regional School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	6.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	5 photos →	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.