Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Athens
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%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Athens has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Exeter | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
1,093Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.7±7.2Lowest 6% 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 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Athens 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% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Lee and Exeter 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 |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.