Compare towns
Durham vs Monroe vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most expensive homes ($322k median).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($220k 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 | Monroe | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,001Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Monroe 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 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe 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 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe 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±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Monroe and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe 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 ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
29 min 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Lisbon 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 |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.