What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bucksport has the most affordable homes ($252k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bucksport	Exeter
People
Population	5,016Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±12.2Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bucksport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.6%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bucksport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,720±$21kLowest 20% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,300±$32kLowest 24% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$882±$92Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,021Lowest 35% below U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 7% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#68 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 25	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Bucksport High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	59 photos →

U.S. 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.