Compare towns
Topsham vs Middlesex vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,943Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Topsham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Topsham 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 13% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 8% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
U.S. 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.