Compare towns

Lisbon vs Stoneham vs Gardiner

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 youngest population (median age 38.4).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

MeasureLisbonStonehamGardiner
People
Population
9,750
23,355Highest
6,088Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.2±2.2Highest
8% above U.S.
42±3.6
8% above U.S.
Stoneham and Gardiner 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%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
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%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham and Gardiner 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%
29.8%
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%
4.1%±1.8Lowest
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±$9k
4% below U.S.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$71,782±$10kLowest
11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,300±$26k
22% below U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$221,600±$19kLowest
33% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$979±$286Lowest
31% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,113±$191
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,324
7% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$2,742Lowest
12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gardiner 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%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±9.6
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±4.1Lowest
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 #36 of 133 in ME
School district Lisbon Public Schools Stoneham RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town Lisbon High School Stoneham High Gardiner Area High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.8Highest
10.7Lowest
11.8
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.