Compare towns
Chesterville vs Exeter vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Chesterville | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,397Highest |
1,093 |
925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
| Chesterville and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— |
| Chesterville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,194Highest 28% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.