Compare towns
Andover vs Exeter vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Andover | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 679Lowest |
1,093Highest |
925 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,922±$9k 33% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
| Lee and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Andover Public Schools | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.