Compare towns
Lee vs Jay vs Exeter vs Lincoln
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%).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k 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 | Lee | Jay | Exeter | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925Lowest |
4,657 |
1,093 |
4,890Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
52.4±3.4 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Lincoln 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Lee 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
20.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$56,089±$15k 25% below ME |
| Exeter and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
| Lee and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$658±$28Lowest 42% below ME |
| Exeter and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,860 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
61.3%±34.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Lincoln 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter 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 | — | #94 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 73 | — | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | Mattanawcook Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| 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.