Compare towns
Topsham vs Danforth vs Kittery 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
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 | Danforth | Kittery | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
666Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Danforth and Kittery 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±2.9 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%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery and Danforth 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46% ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
| Kittery and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 22% above ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
| Kittery and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 40% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Topsham 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Lisbon 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Kittery Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Robert W Traip Academy | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.