Compare towns
Exeter vs Mapleton vs Strong 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).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Stetson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Exeter and Strong 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Strong 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$12k 13% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Exeter 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
| Exeter and Strong 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Exeter 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school 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.