What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).

Lisbon has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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	Sanford	Lisbon
People
Population	22,247Highest	9,750Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+125.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±2.8Highest 6% below ME	38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME
	Sanford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lisbon and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%	16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sanford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±0.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lisbon and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,524±$7kLowest about the ME average	$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME
	Lisbon and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,200±$10kHighest 6% below ME	$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME
	Sanford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,152±$72Highest about the ME average	$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME
	Sanford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,708Highest 22% above ME	$3,324Lowest 9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±7.9Highest ME: 48.4%	43.4%±14.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sanford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	74.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME	1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% above ME	29 minHighest 17% above ME
Work from home	9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Lisbon and Sanford 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	#100 of 133 in ME	#60 of 133 in ME
School district	Sanford Public Schools	Lisbon Public Schools
High school in town	Sanford High School	Lisbon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.7Highest	15.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.