Compare towns
Lisbon vs Ayer vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Lisbon | Ayer | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,211 |
8,645Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Sterling 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.