Compare towns
Lisbon vs Berlin 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 has the most renters (25.2% rent).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($322k median).
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 | Berlin | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
2,880Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Durham 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% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Durham and Berlin 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. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Berlin 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. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Lisbon 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8 |
— | — |
| 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.