Compare towns
Exeter vs Jay vs Lee vs Corinna
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).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Lee has the most homeowners (97%).
Corinna has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).
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 | Jay | Lee | Corinna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
4,657Highest |
925Lowest |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
42.6±4.9 5% below ME |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
21%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Corinna 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
19%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Exeter 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% |
29.7%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% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$56,547±$12k 24% below ME |
| Exeter and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$163,200±$25kLowest 45% below ME |
| Lee and Jay 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 |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
— | $938±$599 18% below ME |
| Exeter and Corinna 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,565 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±27 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Corinna 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
13%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Corinna and Lee 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.