Compare towns
Exeter vs Stetson vs Garland
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 most affordable homes ($167k median).
Stetson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Garland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Stetson | Garland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,151Highest |
823Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
| Garland and Exeter 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% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Garland 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% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Garland 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% |
19.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
| 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±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
$205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Garland 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±$377 30% below ME |
$794±$248Lowest 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 | $1,602 47% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
$1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±46.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Garland 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% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 Our Story | 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.