Compare towns
Durham vs Lisbon vs Sterling
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Sterling has the most renters (18.9% 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 | Durham | Lisbon | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,208Highest |
4,211 |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Durham and Lisbon 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%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon and Durham 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Lisbon and Sterling 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.2% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Lisbon School District | Sterling 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.