Compare towns
Ashland vs Exeter vs Oakfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most kids (14.3% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Oakfield has the shortest commute (19 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 | Ashland | Exeter | Oakfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,080 |
1,093Highest |
629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
52.6±7.7Lowest 17% above ME |
57.7±6.3Highest 29% above ME |
| Oakfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
10.8%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Ashland and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±8 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8% ME: 36.2% |
15%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $46,838±$15k 37% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$46,378±$3kLowest 38% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$144,300±$46k 51% below ME |
| Exeter and Oakfield 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 |
$592±$261Lowest 48% below ME |
| Exeter and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511 50% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,272Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.6%±13.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
19 minLowest 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.