Compare towns
Durham vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,750 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Durham and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Northbridge | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| 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.