Compare towns
Lisbon Falls vs Needham vs Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon Falls has the youngest population (median age 41.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Lisbon Falls | Needham | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,267Lowest |
32,459Highest |
6,088 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.4Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Needham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardiner and Needham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Gardiner 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 10% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,700±$25k 26% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $971±$450Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,947 6% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±18Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Needham | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.