Compare towns
Lisbon vs Reading vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Reading | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750Highest |
699Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Durham 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Reading and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Durham 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.