Compare towns
Exeter vs Limestone vs Sumner vs Lee
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).
Limestone has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Limestone | Sumner | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,579Highest |
845Lowest |
925 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
20.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Lee 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 |
$49,938±$8k 33% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner 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 |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
| Lee and Exeter 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 |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
— | — |
| Exeter and Limestone 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 |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,547 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Lee 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 10 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.