Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sturbridge vs Gardiner
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Gardiner has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.
| Measure | Lisbon | Sturbridge | Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,750 |
9,960Highest |
6,088Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Gardiner 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Gardiner 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% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8Lowest 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±$9k 4% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$26k 22% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$221,600±$19kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,324 7% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$2,742Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardiner 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #36 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lisbon Public Schools | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Lisbon High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Gardiner Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.8 |
| 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.