Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Thomaston
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).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Lee | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
925Lowest |
2,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
| Thomaston 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Lee 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— | $1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
| Thomaston and Exeter 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 |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Thomaston 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% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter 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 | — | — | #99 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.