Compare towns
Durham vs Belgrade vs Augusta vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Belgrade has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Durham | Belgrade | Augusta | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
3,351Lowest |
19,077Highest |
9,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Belgrade and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
| Durham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Durham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$979±$286Highest 14% below ME |
| Lisbon and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Cony | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 17.9Highest |
15.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.