Compare towns
Anson vs Exeter vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.8%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Howland has the shortest commute (31 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 | Anson | Exeter | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$916±$246Lowest 20% 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 | $1,572 48% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | — | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.