What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lisbon	Strafford
People
Population	1,583Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±5.7Lowest 19% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford 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%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Lisbon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,691Lowest 50% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.9%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lisbon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lisbon Regional School District	Strafford 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

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.