Compare towns
Topsham vs Ogunquit vs Scarborough vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Scarborough has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Scarborough | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,379Lowest |
23,215Highest |
9,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+17% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
57.7% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Topsham and Scarborough 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 |
$114,259±$56k 53% above ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Scarborough and Ogunquit 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$551,900±$39k 86% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 19% above ME |
— | $1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Scarborough 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 |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
$3,324Lowest 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.4% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 133 in ME | — | #35 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — | Scarborough Public Schools | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | — | Scarborough High School | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.0Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| 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.