Compare towns
Exeter vs Solon vs Lee vs Dixmont
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).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Dixmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Solon | Lee | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
963 |
925Lowest |
1,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
50.9±4.7 14% above ME |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Exeter 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% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Dixmont 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Exeter and Dixmont 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 |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$190,700±$22kHighest 36% below ME |
| Dixmont and Solon 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 |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
— | $1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Dixmont 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 |
$1,854Highest 39% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Dixmont 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
35 minLowest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 19 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.