Compare towns
Alton vs Exeter vs Lagrange vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Lagrange has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Alton | Exeter | Lagrange | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 819 |
1,093 |
709Lowest |
1,305Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-7.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.9±13.8Lowest about the ME average |
47.5±6.1 6% above ME |
| Exeter and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±3.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$58,417±$14kLowest 22% below ME |
$67,933±$12k 9% below ME |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$157,300±$9k 47% below ME |
| Alton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$48 24% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$831±$151Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,086±$307Highest 5% below ME |
| Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476 51% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
$1,543 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2 ME: 48.4% |
10.3%±51.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 min 43% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Alton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 34 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.