Compare towns
Lisbon vs South Eliot 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).
South Eliot has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | South Eliot | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
4,203Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
44.7±4 about the ME average |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| South Eliot 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 ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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% above ME |
$99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
| South Eliot and Topsham 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 |
$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,355±$642 19% above ME |
| South Eliot 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 |
$4,442Highest 46% above ME |
$4,259 40% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot 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% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 17% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | — | 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 |
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.