What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	9,750Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lisbon and Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge 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.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge 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.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lisbon and Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	7.7Lowest
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.