Compare towns
Lee vs Unity vs Exeter vs Sumner
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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Unity | Exeter | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,858Highest |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Sumner 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Unity and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73Lowest 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | None in town |
| 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.