Compare towns
Topsham vs Durham 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k 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.
| Measure | Topsham | Durham | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
4,262Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Topsham and Durham 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% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest 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%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Durham 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±$20kHighest 22% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
| Topsham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
— | $979±$286Lowest 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 |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 05 | 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.