What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k 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	Exeter
People
Population	9,750Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Exeter 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%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter 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.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.