Compare towns
Lisbon vs Needham vs Bucksport
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Bucksport has the most affordable homes ($252k 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 | Needham | Bucksport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
32,459Highest |
5,016Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.7±12.2 10% above U.S. |
| Needham and Bucksport 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.6%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bucksport and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$64,720±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$252,300±$32kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286 31% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$882±$92Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 7% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,021Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Bucksport 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #68 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Needham | RSU 25 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Needham High | Bucksport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.