Compare towns
Lee vs Springfield vs Danforth 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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Springfield | Danforth | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
310Lowest |
666 |
1,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
| Danforth 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% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Springfield 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% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5k 33% below ME |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Exeter and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$122,500±$28k 59% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Danforth 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 |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,270 58% below ME |
$1,602Highest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Danforth 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.