Compare towns
Lisbon vs Durham vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,583Lowest |
10,681Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Lisbon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lisbon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
| Durham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Lisbon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,691 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±18.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 19% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 minHighest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Lancaster 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lisbon Regional School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.