Compare towns
Lisbon vs Strafford vs Oakland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Strafford | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
1,372Lowest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9 3% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Oakland 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Oakland 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286 31% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 7% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lisbon and Strafford 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Strafford School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
— | 14.2Lowest |
| 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.