Compare towns
Lee vs Freedom vs Exeter
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%).
Freedom has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Freedom | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
670Lowest |
1,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% 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%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Lee 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% |
22.1%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Exeter 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% |
23.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 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±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Exeter and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$190,600±$69kHighest 36% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Freedom and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
32 minLowest 29% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 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 | — | — |
| 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.