Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sterling vs Sutton 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 homeowners (97.9%).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.
| Measure | Lisbon | Sterling | Sutton | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
3,629Lowest |
9,452Highest |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Preston 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Preston 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. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Sutton 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. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Preston 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Sterling School District | Sutton | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.