Compare towns
Lisbon vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k 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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Appleton 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Topsham 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$9k 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Mapleton 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±$26k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
| Topsham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 9% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$4,259Highest 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 17% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Topsham 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 | — | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
— | — | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.