Compare towns

Oakland vs Durham 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).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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.

MeasureOaklandDurhamLisbon
People
Population
6,309
4,262Lowest
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.2±6.9
10% below ME
42.6±5.9Highest
5% below ME
38.4±2.9Lowest
14% below ME
Durham 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%
19.7%±4.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±4
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+
18.2%±3.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.6%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
16.2%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Oakland and Durham 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%
34.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±3.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,813±$16kLowest
4% above ME
$99,181±$5kHighest
33% above ME
$77,819±$9k
4% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$236,000±$23kLowest
20% below ME
$322,200±$34kHighest
9% above ME
$258,300±$26k
13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$74Lowest
18% below ME
—
$979±$286Highest
14% 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
$2,439Lowest
20% below ME
$3,781Highest
25% above ME
$3,324
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.7%±14.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±40.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
43.4%±14.2
ME: 48.4%
Oakland and Lisbon 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%
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
5 yrs newer than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
8% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
29 minHighest
17% above ME
Work from home
8.4%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
18.1%±9.6
ME: 15.9%
Durham 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 #14 of 133 in ME #60 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 RSU 05 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 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.