Compare towns
Durham vs Poland 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 homeowners (95.4%).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Lisbon has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Poland | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
5,954 |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
| Poland 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% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon and Poland 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% |
17.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Poland 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% |
23.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
$77,819±$9kLowest 4% above ME |
| Durham and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
$258,300±$26kLowest 13% below ME |
| Durham and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,198±$128Highest 5% above ME |
$979±$286Lowest 14% below ME |
| Poland 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 |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,324 9% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 16 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
15.8Highest |
| 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.