Compare towns
Lisbon vs Rye vs Topsham
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 most affordable homes ($258k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 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 | Rye | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
5,611Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham 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±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Rye and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lisbon 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Rye School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.