Compare towns
Durham vs Lisbon vs Needham
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%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Lisbon | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
9,750 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Lisbon 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 05 | Lisbon Public Schools | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
| 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.