Compare towns
Exeter vs Cherryfield vs Stetson 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).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Stetson has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Cherryfield | Stetson | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
809Lowest |
1,151Highest |
925 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
| Cherryfield 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% |
11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Lee 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% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 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 |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$49,886±$5k 33% below ME |
| 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±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
| Stetson and Cherryfield 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 |
$428±$107Lowest 62% 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Stetson 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Cherryfield 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.