Compare towns
Lisbon vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,211 |
16,458Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lisbon and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Sterling 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Northbridge | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.