Compare towns
Lisbon vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
25,237Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324Lowest 7% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Dedham | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.