Compare towns
Lisbon vs Bow vs Bowdoin
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 has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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.
| Measure | Lisbon | Bow | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
8,335 |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below 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. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest 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 | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Bow School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.