Compare towns
Lee vs Whiting 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).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Whiting | Exeter | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
506Lowest |
1,093Highest |
679 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
50±5Lowest 12% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.8±3.9 16% above ME |
| Exeter and Andover 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% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
8.8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Whiting 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% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
34.9%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% |
2.8%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$55,263±$2k 26% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,922±$9k 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$214,200±$52kHighest 28% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$168,300±$22k 43% below ME |
| Whiting and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $600±$333Lowest 47% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Whiting 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 |
$1,728Highest 43% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,513Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
16.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97% ME: 74.3% |
93.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 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 |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 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 | Whiting 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.