Compare towns
Exeter vs Acton vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Exeter | Acton | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Acton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Acton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Acton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
| Exeter and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Exeter and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
32 minLowest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Stetson 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | — |
| 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.