Compare towns
Lisbon vs Wells vs Bowdoin
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Wells | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
11,713Highest |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Wells and Bowdoin 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
— |
| Wells and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 9% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Wells 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 17% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.