Compare towns
Chapman vs Exeter vs Starks vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Starks has the most renters (10% rent).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 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 | Chapman | Exeter | Starks | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,093Highest |
556 |
444 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME |
| Chapman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22kHighest 37% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
| Chapman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$988±$111Lowest 13% below ME |
| Starks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
90%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 6% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Ludlow 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 | 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.