Compare towns

Lisbon vs Dedham vs Topsham

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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureLisbonDedhamTopsham
People
Population
9,750
25,237Highest
9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
44.7±4Highest
15% above U.S.
Topsham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Lisbon and Topsham 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%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Topsham and Dedham 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%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Topsham 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.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$91,028±$10k
13% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,300±$26kLowest
22% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$360,800±$20k
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$979±$286Lowest
31% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,355±$642
4% below U.S.
Dedham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,324Lowest
7% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,259
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±9.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dedham 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 #119 of 282 in MA #66 of 133 in ME
School district Lisbon Public Schools Dedham RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Lisbon High School Dedham High Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.8Highest
10.4Lowest
12.2
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.