Compare towns
Exeter vs Jackson vs Thorndike
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Jackson | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
567Lowest |
1,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Jackson 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% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Jackson 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Thorndike 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 |
$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Exeter and Thorndike 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 |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Jackson and Thorndike 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Exeter and Thorndike 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Thorndike and Exeter 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
35 minLowest 41% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.