Compare towns
Lee vs Mapleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k 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 | Mapleton | Exeter | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,884Highest |
1,093 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.7±7.2 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%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lee 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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 |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Athens 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.