Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
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 | Athens | Exeter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.