What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lisbon	Gardiner
People
Population	9,750Highest	6,088Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME	42±3.6Highest 6% below ME
	Gardiner and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Lisbon and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Gardiner 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 ME: 36.2%	29.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Lisbon and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME	$71,782±$10kLowest 4% below ME
	Lisbon and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME	$221,600±$19kLowest 25% below ME
	Lisbon and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME	$1,113±$191Highest about the ME average
	Gardiner and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Highest 9% above ME	$2,742Lowest 10% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	44.6%±13.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Gardiner 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 ME: 10.7%	10.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1944Lowest 33 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 17% above ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9%	13.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lisbon and Gardiner 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	#36 of 133 in ME
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.