Compare towns
Exeter vs Fairfield vs Stetson
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 oldest population (median age 52.6).
Fairfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Stetson has the most expensive homes ($206k 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 | Fairfield | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
2,356Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
34.2±7.7Lowest 24% below ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Exeter and Stetson 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% |
22.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Stetson 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% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Stetson 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% |
13.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$52,409±$23kLowest 30% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| 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±$39k 44% below ME |
$139,600±$17kLowest 53% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,013±$142Highest 11% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Fairfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,119Highest 30% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Fairfield 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% |
16.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
18 minLowest 25% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson 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 | — | #47 of 133 in ME | — |
| 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.