Compare towns
Lee vs Mapleton vs Unity 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 homeowners (97%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% 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% |
14%±3.6 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Unity 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% 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% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Lee 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.