Compare towns
Lisbon vs Barre vs Bowdoin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Barre | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
8,412 |
3,188Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
44.3±10Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lisbon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,819±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Barre and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lisbon and Bowdoin 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 | #60 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.