Compare towns
Exeter vs Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Union
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).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
2,647 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Union 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% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Union 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% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson 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 |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Jefferson and Union 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 |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Jefferson 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 |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Mapleton 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 | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.