Compare towns
Andover vs Exeter vs Lee vs Jackman
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Jackman has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Jackman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679Lowest |
1,093Highest |
925 |
695 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
54.2±5.7Highest 21% above ME |
| Jackman and Exeter 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% |
11.5%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.7%±6.1Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.4%Highest 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% |
2.4%±3 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±$5k 33% below ME |
$33,625±$19kLowest 55% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$172,700±$61k 42% below ME |
| Lee and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $475±$143Lowest 58% below ME |
| Exeter and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,513 50% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,492Lowest 51% 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% |
57.1%±24.5 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% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97% ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% 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% |
12.3%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Jackman 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 | 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.