Compare towns
Anson vs Exeter vs Lee vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Anson | Exeter | Lee | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,093 |
925 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
| Anson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247 20% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,740Highest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1953 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.