Compare towns
Topsham vs Lisbon Falls vs South Berwick
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%).
Lisbon Falls has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.
| Measure | Topsham | Lisbon Falls | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706Highest |
4,267Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
41.1±4.4 8% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Topsham and Lisbon Falls 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% |
18.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
17.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and Lisbon Falls 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% |
24.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and South Berwick 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 |
$72,344±$9kLowest 3% below ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
| South Berwick 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 |
$245,700±$25kLowest 17% below ME |
$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
$971±$450Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
| South Berwick 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 |
$2,947Lowest about the ME average |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
27.9%±18Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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% |
5.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.