Compare towns
Lisbon vs Exeter 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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 | Exeter | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
16,151Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoin 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Bowdoin 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lisbon 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.