Compare towns
Exeter vs Perham vs Wade 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 highest household income ($84k).
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Wade has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Perham | Wade | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
326 |
244Lowest |
1,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
53±12.9 18% above ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Wade and Perham 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% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Perham 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% |
24.5%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wade and Perham 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% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% 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 |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$157,100±$109k 47% 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±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | — | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Exeter and Stetson 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 |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
34 min 37% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8 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.