Compare towns
Exeter vs Ludlow vs Starks vs Stetson
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).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Starks has the oldest housing (typical home built 1988).
Stetson has the most expensive homes ($206k median).
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 | Ludlow | Starks | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
444Lowest |
556 |
1,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Exeter and Starks 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% |
22.7%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Ludlow and Stetson 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% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Starks 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% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$62,500±$21kLowest 16% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Exeter and Stetson 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 |
$133,900±$56kLowest 55% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Exeter 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 |
$988±$111 13% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±94.3 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Ludlow 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% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.4% ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.