Compare towns
Exeter vs Monroe vs Prospect
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).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% 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 | Monroe | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Highest |
1,001 |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
43.5±7Lowest about the ME average |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Prospect 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% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Monroe 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% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Monroe 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% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe 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 |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$81,250±$17kLowest 9% above ME |
| Exeter and Monroe 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 |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
| Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
| Monroe and Prospect 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 |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Exeter 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% |
11.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Lowest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 minLowest 28% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Monroe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school 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.