Compare towns
Topsham vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
1,101Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±4 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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 ME: 36.2% |
48.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 22% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
| Wayne and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Highest 19% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Topsham and Wayne 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 |
$3,289Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Lisbon 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 | RSU 38 | 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 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.