Compare towns
Lee vs Cherryfield vs Exeter vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Lee | Cherryfield | Exeter | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
809 |
1,093Highest |
679Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5k 33% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,922±$9k 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | Cherryfield Public Schools | — | Andover Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.