Compare towns
Exeter vs Howland vs Lagrange
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).
Howland has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k 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 | Howland | Lagrange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,367Highest |
709Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
45.9±13.8Lowest about the ME average |
| Exeter and Howland 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%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Howland 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% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Howland 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 |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
| Exeter and Howland 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 |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
$831±$151Lowest 27% below ME |
| Exeter and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange 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% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | — |
| High school in town | — | Penobscot Valley High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.