Compare towns
Lisbon vs Jay vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Jay | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
4,657 |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest 14% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
| Durham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay 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 ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Highest 14% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
— |
| Lisbon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 9% above ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lisbon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 17% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 73 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
12.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.