Compare towns
Lisbon vs Calais 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 affordable homes ($258k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Calais | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
1,713Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Durham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Lisbon 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Durham 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Durham 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. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Calais and Durham 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. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Calais and Durham 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. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Calais 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Lisbon 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Durham 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 | — | #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.