Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Lee vs Mapleton
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 affordable homes ($153k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Lee | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,093 |
925 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lee 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 |
— | $610±$277 46% below ME |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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 |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee 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% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None 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.