Compare towns

Lisbon Falls vs Appleton vs Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon Falls has the most renters (29.9% rent).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).

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.

MeasureLisbon FallsAppletonDurham
People
Population
4,267Highest
1,360Lowest
4,262
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.1±4.4Lowest
8% below ME
49.2±7.4Highest
10% above ME
42.6±5.9
5% below ME
Appleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.7%±4.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
Durham and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.3
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Appleton and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%
ME: 36.2%
34.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±3.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Durham and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,344±$9k
3% below ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
$99,181±$5kHighest
33% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,700±$25k
17% below ME
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
$322,200±$34kHighest
9% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$971±$450Lowest
15% below ME
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
—
Appleton and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,947Lowest
about the ME average
$3,588
18% above ME
$3,781Highest
25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.9%±18
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±40.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
10 yrs older than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
20% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
28 minLowest
13% above ME
Work from home
6.6%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #14 of 133 in ME
School district — Appleton Public Schools RSU 05
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.