Compare towns
Lee vs Mechanic Falls vs Ogunquit 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%).
Mechanic Falls has the youngest population (median age 39.8).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Mechanic Falls | Ogunquit | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925Lowest |
3,134Highest |
1,379 |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
39.8±4.7Lowest 11% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Lee 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% |
16.4%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Ogunquit 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 |
$69,914±$12k 6% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$270,900±$44k 9% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,076±$208Highest 6% below ME |
— | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
| Mechanic Falls 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 |
$2,993 about the ME average |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±20.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Mechanic Falls 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
26 minLowest 5% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #122 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 16 | — | — |
| 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.