Compare towns
Exeter vs Athens vs Lee 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 highest household income ($84k).
Athens has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Stetson has the most expensive homes ($206k median).
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 | Athens | Lee | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
791Lowest |
925 |
1,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Athens 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 |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Exeter and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
— | $800±$377 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 | $1,602 47% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Athens Public Schools | 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 | 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.