Compare towns
Topsham vs Orford 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 most expensive homes ($361k median).
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Lisbon has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Orford | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,295Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest 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% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford 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. |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Orford 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±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orford 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. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Rivendell Academy | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
9.5Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.