Compare towns
Lisbon vs Exeter vs Oakland
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 youngest population (median age 38.4).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Exeter | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
16,151Highest |
6,309Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Oakland 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Oakland 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,819±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286 31% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 7% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Exeter High School | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.