Compare towns
Lisbon vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Topsham has the most homeowners (78.9%).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
16,151Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% 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 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% 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% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #66 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 | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.