Compare towns
Lisbon vs Oakham 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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Oakham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,211Highest |
1,639Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Lisbon 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% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest 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%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakham and Lisbon 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lisbon and Oakham 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. |
$102,000±$20k 26% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Oakham 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Oakham 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Quabbin | Sterling 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.