Compare towns
Durham vs Lisbon vs Upton vs Auburn
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).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Auburn has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Upton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
9,750 |
8,189 |
24,602Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Auburn 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn 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±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$66,647±$5kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$282,000±$12k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $979±$286 31% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,041±$74Highest 26% below U.S. |
| Auburn 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. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,687 18% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Auburn and Upton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Lisbon Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon High School | Blackstone Valley | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.