Compare towns
Jefferson vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Jefferson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.