Compare towns
Lisbon vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough 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 most affordable homes ($258k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Scarborough | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,750 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
50% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Scarborough 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% above ME |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| Scarborough and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 17% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | — | Scarborough Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | — | Scarborough High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.