Compare towns

Exeter vs Garland vs Mapleton

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 most affordable homes ($167k median).
Garland has the most expensive homes ($205k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

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.

MeasureExeterGarlandMapleton
People
Population
1,093
823Lowest
1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-7.1%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.6±7.7
17% above ME
53.5±4.3Highest
19% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
Garland 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%
18%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Garland 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%
23.2%±4.3
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Exeter and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
16.8%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
1.7%±1.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton 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±$12k
13% above ME
$51,094±$12kLowest
32% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
Mapleton 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±$39kLowest
44% below ME
$205,400±$38kHighest
31% below ME
$191,800±$23k
35% below ME
Garland and Mapleton 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
$794±$248
30% below ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
Exeter and Garland 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
$1,536Lowest
49% below ME
$1,789Highest
41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±73.8
ME: 48.4%
46.7%±46.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Garland 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%
19.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
87.5%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
43% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
Work from home
10.3%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±3.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town — — None in town
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.