Compare towns

Lisbon vs Stoneham vs Bowdoin

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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).

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.

MeasureLisbonStonehamBowdoin
People
Population
9,750
23,355Highest
3,188Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
44.3±10Highest
14% above U.S.
Bowdoin and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Lisbon and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.2%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham and Lisbon 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%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stoneham 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.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$91,239±$13k
13% above U.S.
Stoneham 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±$26kLowest
22% below U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$292,800±$71k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$979±$286Lowest
31% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,324Lowest
7% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,375
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±14.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±42.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lisbon and Stoneham 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±9.6
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham 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 #117 of 282 in MA #28 of 133 in ME
School district Lisbon Public Schools Stoneham RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Lisbon High School Stoneham High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
15.8Highest
10.7Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.