What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k 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	Plaistow
People
Population	9,750Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.
	Plaistow 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%	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Plaistow 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%	17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plaistow 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%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lisbon and Plaistow 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.	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S.	$7,194Highest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow 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%	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lisbon and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	11.4Lowest
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.