Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Dover | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
5,930 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Dover and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #1 of 282 in MA | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.