Compare towns

Lisbon vs Berlin vs Preston

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 kids (22.1% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasureLisbonBerlinPreston
People
Population
4,211
3,378Lowest
4,821Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44.5±5.2Lowest
14% above U.S.
49.7±2.8Highest
28% above U.S.
46.2±7
19% above U.S.
Berlin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.3%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.1%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Preston and Berlin 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.
$121,336±$12kHighest
50% above U.S.
$116,648±$27k
44% above U.S.
Berlin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$315,700±$26kLowest
5% below U.S.
$616,600±$55kHighest
85% above U.S.
$361,900±$13k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,420±$933Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,433±$1kLowest
about the U.S. average
Berlin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,044Lowest
30% above U.S.
$7,116Highest
128% above U.S.
$4,749
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±75.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±19.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lisbon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
8.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.1%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #102 of 149 in CT #61 of 282 in MA #93 of 149 in CT
School district Lisbon School District Berlin-Boylston Preston School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.