Compare towns
Exeter vs Dixmont vs Sumner 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).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Dixmont | Sumner | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,207Highest |
845Lowest |
925 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
50.9±4.7Lowest 14% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Sumner 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% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
24.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Dixmont 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 |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
| Exeter and Dixmont 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 |
$190,700±$22kHighest 36% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
| Dixmont and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
— | — |
| Dixmont and Exeter 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 |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Lee 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
35 minLowest 40% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 19 | RSU 10 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.