Compare towns
Bucksport vs Exeter vs Prospect
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bucksport has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Bucksport | Exeter | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,016 |
16,151Highest |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.2±7.5 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±10.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Prospect and Bucksport 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1Lowest 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. |
$81,250±$17k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,300±$32k 24% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$196,500±$19kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $882±$92Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,107±$61 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,021 35% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,979Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±42Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest 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 → | None yet |
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.