Compare towns
Lisbon vs Rowley 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%).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Rowley | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,211 |
6,251Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest 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% |
21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley 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% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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. |
$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Triton | 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.