What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most people working from home (10.3%).

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Ellsworth
People
Population	1,583Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S.	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Lisbon and Ellsworth 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%	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Ellsworth 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%	22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth 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%	39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Ellsworth 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.	$242,300±$22kHighest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Lisbon and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,691Highest 50% above U.S.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lisbon and Ellsworth 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	—	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Lisbon Regional School District	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Lisbon Regional School (High)	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	6.4Lowest	12.7Highest
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.