Compare towns
Topsham vs Gorham vs Lisbon vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Freeport has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Gorham | Lisbon | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
18,300Highest |
9,750 |
8,802Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
| Freeport 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% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10k 22% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
| Gorham and Freeport 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 |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
| Freeport and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,439±$123 26% above ME |
| Gorham and Freeport 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 |
$4,825 59% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.6% 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 |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Gorham Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Gorham High School | Lisbon High School | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.9 |
15.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.