Compare towns
Exeter vs Bingham vs Lee
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).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k median).
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 | Exeter | Bingham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Highest |
660Lowest |
925 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56±8.2Highest 25% above ME |
51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
| Bingham 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% |
15.6%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6Lowest 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 | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$42,708±$22kLowest 43% below ME |
$49,886±$5k 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
| Lee and Exeter 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 |
$354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9Lowest 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 | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest 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 83/MSAD 13 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | — | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3 |
— |
| 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.