Compare towns

Exeter vs Sullivan vs Lee

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).
Sullivan has the most expensive homes ($222k median).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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.

MeasureExeterSullivanLee
People
Population
1,093
1,246Highest
925Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%
ME: +2.6%
-0.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
52.6±7.7Highest
17% above ME
47.1±15Lowest
5% above ME
51.5±11.5
15% 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%
18%±5.2
ME: 18.1%
21.8%±4.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Lee and Sullivan 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%
22.5%±2.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.5%±4.9Highest
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%
26%Highest
ME: 36.2%
14.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±4Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
Sullivan and Lee 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
$59,643±$14k
20% below ME
$49,886±$5kLowest
33% below ME
Exeter and Sullivan 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
$222,000±$33kHighest
25% below ME
$174,500±$25k
41% below ME
Sullivan and Lee 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
$883±$114Lowest
22% below ME
—
Exeter and Sullivan 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
$2,228Highest
27% below ME
$1,547Lowest
49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±73.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
34.9%±23.6
ME: 48.4%
80%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Lee and Sullivan 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%
13.6%
ME: 10.7%
19.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.1%
ME: 74.3%
85.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
97%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1981
4 yrs newer than ME
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
43% above ME
26 minLowest
7% above ME
35 min
41% above ME
Work from home
10.3%±5.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.6%±7.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.9%±4.7
ME: 15.9%
Sullivan and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 24 RSU 30/MSAD 30
High school in town — Sumner Memorial High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.5
—
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.