Compare towns

Oakland vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

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.

MeasureOaklandWayneLisbon
People
Population
6,309
1,101Lowest
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.2%
ME: +2.6%
-5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.2±6.9
10% below ME
55.6±5.3Highest
24% above ME
38.4±2.9Lowest
14% below ME
Kids under 18
23.8%±5.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
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%±3.4
ME: 22.4%
29.2%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.2%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.4%
ME: 36.2%
48.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
6.5%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Wayne and Oakland 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
$93,194±$26kHighest
25% above ME
$77,819±$9k
4% above ME
Wayne 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
$362,800±$29kHighest
22% above ME
$258,300±$26k
13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$74Lowest
18% below ME
$983±$554Highest
14% below ME
$979±$286
14% below ME
Wayne 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
$3,289
8% above ME
$3,324Highest
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.7%±14.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±52.1Lowest
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%
7.9%
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.6%
ME: 74.3%
89.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
8% above ME
30 minHighest
24% above ME
29 min
17% above ME
Work from home
8.4%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
26.2%±11.7Highest
ME: 15.9%
18.1%±9.6
ME: 15.9%
Wayne 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 — #60 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 RSU 38 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.