Compare towns
Lee vs Surry vs Exeter vs Andover
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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Andover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Surry | Exeter | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,836Highest |
1,093 |
679Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Lowest 15% above ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
| Exeter and Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Surry 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Andover 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% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5 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±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,922±$9k 33% below ME |
| Exeter and Surry 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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Surry 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 |
$1,903Highest 37% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Andover and Lee 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% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 minLowest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.2%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Andover 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 | Surry Public Schools | — | Andover Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.