Compare towns
Topsham vs Appleton vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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.
| Measure | Topsham | Appleton | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,360Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kHighest 22% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
| Topsham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Topsham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259Highest 40% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Appleton Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 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.