Compare towns
Durham vs Lisbon vs Rye
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
9,750Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #60 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 05 | Lisbon Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8 |
— |
| 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.