Compare towns
Durham vs Epping vs China 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 the most homeowners (95.4%).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Epping | China | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
7,430 |
4,526 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.9±5.9 5% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and China 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Epping and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,324 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Durham 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #27 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Epping School District | RSU 18 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.