Compare towns
Topsham vs Newfields vs Lisbon vs Kittery
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Newfields | Lisbon | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
2,023Lowest |
9,750 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Kittery 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Newfields School District | Lisbon Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town | Lisbon High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 15.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.