Compare towns
Lisbon vs Thompson vs Upton 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%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Thompson | Upton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
9,337Highest |
8,189 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sterling 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lisbon and Sterling 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,012±$344Highest 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Thompson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044 30% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.