Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
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 | Exeter | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Durham 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.