What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).

Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lisbon	Brunswick
People
Population	1,583Lowest	22,336Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S.	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Lisbon and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.	$74,952±$6kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.	$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,344±$303Lowest 5% below U.S.	$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S.
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,691Lowest 50% above U.S.	$4,756Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brunswick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.	23 minHighest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#30 of 133 in ME
School district	Lisbon Regional School District	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10
High school in town	Lisbon Regional School (High)	Brunswick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.4Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.