Compare towns
Lee vs Mapleton vs Springfield 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 people working from home (11.9%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Springfield | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,884Highest |
310Lowest |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Springfield 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% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.4 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 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 |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above 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 |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% 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±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $995±$386Highest 13% 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 |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.