Compare towns

Durham vs Temple 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%).
Temple has the most expensive homes ($401k 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.

MeasureDurhamTempleLisbon
People
Population
4,262
1,363Lowest
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
38.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Temple and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±4Highest
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%
17.8%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Temple 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.5%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%
1.7%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.8
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±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
$94,107±$15k
17% above U.S.
$77,819±$9kLowest
4% below U.S.
Durham and Temple 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.
$401,000±$27kHighest
21% above U.S.
$258,300±$26kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,169±$523Highest
17% below U.S.
$979±$286Lowest
31% below U.S.
Temple 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.
$6,983Highest
124% above U.S.
$3,324Lowest
7% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.2%±54.1
U.S.: 51.1%
43.4%±14.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lisbon and Temple 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%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±5.6Lowest
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 — #60 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Contoocook Valley School District 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

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.