Compare towns
Lee vs Ogunquit 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 the most homeowners (97%).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most renters (6.9% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Exeter | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,379Highest |
1,093 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
47.7±7.2Lowest 6% 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%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Athens 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Exeter and Athens 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — | — | Athens Public Schools |
| 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.