Compare towns
Topsham vs North Berwick 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).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
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 | North Berwick | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
5,129Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Highest about the ME average |
41.6±4.7 7% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Topsham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and North Berwick 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% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsham and North Berwick 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% |
29% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and North 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 |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| North 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 |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Topsham and North Berwick 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 |
$3,735 23% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick and Lisbon 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% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon 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 | #82 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Noble High School | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.0Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| 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.