Compare towns
Lee vs Lyman 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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Lee | Lyman | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925Lowest |
4,612Highest |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
| Lyman 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% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Lyman 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% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman 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% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
| Lyman and Exeter 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 |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$522Highest 7% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
| Lyman and Exeter 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 |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Lyman 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
33 minLowest 35% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Lee 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 | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — |
| 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.