Compare towns
Oakland vs Berwick vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Berwick has the most expensive homes ($369k median).
Lisbon has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Oakland | Berwick | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,309Lowest |
8,175 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
40.7±2.9Highest 9% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Berwick and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakland and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 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 | $77,813±$16kLowest 4% above ME |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
| Berwick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 20% below ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
| Berwick and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% above ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.