What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Orono has the shortest commute (15 min average).

Orono is a college town. 56.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Orono
People
Population	9,750Lowest	11,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	38.4±2.9Highest 14% below ME	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	16.2%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4%	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Lisbon and Orono 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%	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME	$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME	$272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME
	Orono and Lisbon 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	$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME
	Orono and Lisbon 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	$4,830Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Orono 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%	24.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 17% above ME	15 minLowest 38% below ME
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9%	11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lisbon and Orono 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	#26 of 133 in ME
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	RSU 26
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Orono High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.