Compare towns
Lee vs Lyman 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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Exeter has the most renters (6.9% rent).
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 | Lyman | Exeter | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
4,612Highest |
1,093 |
679Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.4% 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 |
51.8±3.9 16% 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%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest 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%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Andover and Lyman 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% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$49,922±$9k 33% below 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 |
$168,300±$22k 43% 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 | $1,547 49% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% ME: 74.3% |
95% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
33 min 35% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover and Lyman 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 | — | 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.