Compare towns
Durham vs Lisbon vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Lisbon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Durham | Lisbon | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
4,211Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$315,700±$26kLowest 14% below CT |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
— | $1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
| Preston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% CT: 10% |
6.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below CT |
32 minHighest 20% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Preston 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 | #88 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Lisbon School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.