Compare towns
Durham vs Bristol vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bristol | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,273 |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
| Lisbon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,344±$303 10% below NH |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,691 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Bristol 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Newfound Regional High School | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.5 |
6.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.