Compare towns
Durham vs China 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 most expensive homes ($322k median).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Durham | China | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
4,526 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and China 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% |
21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| China and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Durham and China 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 |
$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $979±$286 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest 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 | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | 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.