What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most homeowners (74.8%).

Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lisbon	Dover
People
Population	9,750Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Lisbon and Dover 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%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Dover 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%	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dover 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%	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover 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.	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover and Lisbon 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Dover School District
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.