What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Lisbon Falls has the most affordable homes ($246k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Eliot	Lisbon Falls
People
Population	4,203Lowest	4,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	55.5±8Highest 24% above ME	41.1±4.4Lowest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Lisbon Falls and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	24.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Lisbon Falls and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME	$72,344±$9kLowest 3% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME	$245,700±$25kLowest 17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME	$971±$450Lowest 15% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Highest 46% above ME	$2,947Lowest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4%	27.9%±18Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Eliot and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	5.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	70.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 16% below ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.6%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
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.