Compare towns
Randolph vs Lisbon vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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 | Randolph | Lisbon | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,610 |
9,750Highest |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Lisbon and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Lisbon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21k 41% below ME |
$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
$916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
| Randolph and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160 29% below ME |
$3,324Highest 9% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #60 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | — | Lisbon High School | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.