Compare towns
Jay vs Exeter vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Oakland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Jay | Exeter | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
1,093Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
| Exeter and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
| Exeter and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
| Exeter and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,439Highest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| 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.