Compare towns
Porter vs Exeter vs Parsonsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Porter | Exeter | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,746Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,715 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
44.3±5.9 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Porter and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$72,045±$18k 4% below ME |
| Exeter and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME |
| Parsonsfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,841 39% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,350Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Parsonsfield and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 30% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Porter and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.