Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sidney vs Lancaster
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 ($198k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
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 | Sidney | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,583Lowest |
4,790Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Sidney 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 40% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Lisbon and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,691Highest 50% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lisbon Regional School District | RSU 18 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.4 |
— | — |
| 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.