Compare towns
Jay vs Lisbon vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Jay | Lisbon | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Lowest |
9,750Highest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
40.2±6.9Highest 10% below ME |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$979±$286Highest 14% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,324Highest 9% above ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Oakland 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Lisbon High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
15.8Highest |
14.2 |
| 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.