Compare towns

Durham vs Union 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 highest household income ($99k).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureDurhamUnionLisbon
People
Population
4,262
2,663Lowest
9,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+7.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.6±5.9Highest
5% below ME
41.6±5.3
7% below ME
38.4±2.9Lowest
14% below ME
Durham and Union 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%
24.9%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±4
ME: 18.1%
Union 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%
21.4%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.2%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Union 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%
34.4%
ME: 36.2%
23.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
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
$80,724±$9k
8% above ME
$77,819±$9kLowest
4% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,200±$34kHighest
9% above ME
$267,600±$42k
10% below ME
$258,300±$26kLowest
13% below ME
Durham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,179±$452Highest
4% above ME
$979±$286Lowest
14% below ME
Union 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
$3,276Lowest
8% above ME
$3,324
9% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9
ME: 48.4%
24.6%±19.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
43.4%±14.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
Lisbon and Durham 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%
10.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
85.9%
ME: 74.3%
74.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
13% above ME
29 minHighest
20% above ME
29 min
17% above ME
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
15.9%±5.3Lowest
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 40/MSAD 40 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.