What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k 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	Northbridge
People
Population	9,750Lowest	16,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Lisbon 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%	21.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Northbridge 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%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kLowest 4% below U.S.	$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S.
	Northbridge 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.	$4,821Highest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973 7 yrs older than U.S.	1973 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lisbon and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Northbridge
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	10.8Lowest
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.