Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham vs Lee vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most expensive homes ($322k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Durham | Lee | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
4,262Highest |
925 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% 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% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Durham 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Lee 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 |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Durham 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±$39k 44% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 47% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Sumner 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 05 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 10 |
| 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.