Compare towns
Exeter vs Belgrade vs Garland
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).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Garland has the most renters (12.5% rent).
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 | Belgrade | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
3,351Highest |
823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
| Garland 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% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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±$12k 13% above ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
| Belgrade and Exeter 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 |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
| Exeter and Belgrade 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 |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±46.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Garland and Exeter 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% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Exeter 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | — |
| 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.