Compare towns

Topsham vs Canton 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).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureTopshamCantonLisbon
People
Population
9,706
1,191Lowest
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%
ME: +2.6%
+13.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.7±4Highest
about the ME average
41.4±7.2
8% below ME
38.4±2.9Lowest
14% below ME
Topsham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±3.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.4%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Lisbon and Canton 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%
27.7%±6.6Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.2%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Canton 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%
23.7%
ME: 36.2%
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.4%±2.5Lowest
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
$52,458±$35kLowest
30% 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
$165,000±$50kLowest
44% below ME
$258,300±$26k
13% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,355±$642Highest
19% above ME
$485±$18Lowest
57% below ME
$979±$286
14% below ME
Topsham and Lisbon 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
$2,277Lowest
25% below ME
$3,324
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±12.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
88.9%±33.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
43.4%±14.2
ME: 48.4%
Canton 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%
8.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.9%
ME: 74.3%
81.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
1975
2 yrs older than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
4% below ME
35 minHighest
42% above ME
29 min
17% above ME
Work from home
17.2%±4.3
ME: 15.9%
16.1%±6.4Lowest
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 — Lisbon Public Schools
High school in town Mt Ararat High School — 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.