Compare towns
Mapleton vs Starks vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Mapleton | Starks | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
| Starks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.