Compare towns
Garland vs Union vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Garland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Garland | Union | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 823Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
52.6±7.7 17% 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 | 18%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest 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+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Exeter and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Union and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
| Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±46.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Garland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 7% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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.