Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Durham | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
1,093 |
925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% 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 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest 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 | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | None 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.