Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sumner vs Oakland
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%).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Oakland has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Sumner | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
845Lowest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Lisbon 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland 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±$9kHighest 4% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Highest 14% below ME |
— | $939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
| Lisbon and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324Highest 9% above ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Oakland 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 17% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 10 | 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 |
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.