Compare towns
Dresden vs Durham vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Lisbon has the most renters (25.2% rent).
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 | Dresden | Durham | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645Lowest |
4,262 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Dresden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dresden and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,844±$22kLowest about the ME average |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
— | $979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Dresden and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 02 | RSU 05 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.8 |
| 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.