Compare towns

Limestone vs Exeter vs Mars Hill

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Limestone has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Mars Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.9%).

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.

MeasureLimestoneExeterMars Hill
People
Population
1,579Highest
1,093Lowest
1,398
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-34.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-11.8%
ME: +2.6%
-8.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.3±4.9
about the ME average
52.6±7.7Highest
17% above ME
43.4±3Lowest
3% below ME
Exeter and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±4.8
ME: 18.1%
9%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.9%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Mars Hill and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±11.4
ME: 22.4%
24.5%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Mars Hill and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.3%
ME: 36.2%
15%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
26%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.5%±4.7Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±3.4
ME: 5.8%
Limestone and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$49,938±$8kLowest
33% below ME
$84,408±$12kHighest
13% above ME
$65,273±$9k
13% below ME
Exeter and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$98,400±$18kLowest
67% below ME
$166,700±$39kHighest
44% below ME
$163,600±$23k
45% below ME
Exeter and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$754±$233
34% below ME
$995±$386Highest
13% below ME
$488±$96Lowest
57% below ME
Exeter and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,332Lowest
56% below ME
$1,602
47% below ME
$1,843Highest
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±12.4
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±73.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
30.6%±7.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Exeter and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
70.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
18 yrs older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1967
10 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
24% below ME
35 minHighest
43% above ME
21 min
14% below ME
Work from home
14.5%±5.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.3%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±6.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Limestone and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools — RSU 42/MSAD 42
High school in town ME Sch of Science & Mathematics — Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S
Students per teacherat that high school
8.6Highest
—
8.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.