Compare towns

Perham vs Exeter vs Union

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).

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.

MeasurePerhamExeterUnion
People
Population
326Lowest
1,093
2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
53±12.9Highest
18% above ME
52.6±7.7
17% above ME
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
Perham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±8.5
ME: 18.1%
9%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.9%±4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Union and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±2.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±11.4
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Perham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.7%
ME: 36.2%
15%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,500±$22kLowest
16% below ME
$84,408±$12kHighest
13% above ME
$80,724±$9k
8% above ME
Exeter and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$117,600±$9kLowest
60% below ME
$166,700±$39k
44% below ME
$267,600±$42kHighest
10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$995±$386Lowest
13% below ME
$1,179±$452Highest
4% above ME
Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,641
46% below ME
$1,602Lowest
47% below ME
$3,276Highest
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±73.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
24.6%±19.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
8.1%
ME: 10.7%
10.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%
ME: 74.3%
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
85.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
about the ME average
35 minHighest
43% above ME
29 min
20% above ME
Work from home
8.4%±7.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.3%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
15.9%±5.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — RSU 40/MSAD 40
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.