What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

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	Lisbon	Bow
People
Population	9,750Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Bow and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lisbon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow 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	#60 of 133 in ME	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Bow School District
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.