Compare towns
Lisbon Falls vs Needham vs Durham
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 Falls has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
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 Falls | Needham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,267 |
32,459Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.4Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Needham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$9kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,700±$25kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $971±$450Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,947Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±18 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Needham | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.