Compare towns
Lisbon vs Smithfield vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k 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 | Smithfield | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
856Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Smithfield and Bowdoin 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lisbon and Smithfield 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| Smithfield and Bowdoin 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 |
$242,800±$15kLowest 18% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin 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 |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Smithfield and Lisbon 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 |
$2,866Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Smithfield 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 17% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.