Compare towns
Topsham vs Unity 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Unity | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,375Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Unity and Topsham 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | Unity School District | 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.