Compare towns
Porter vs Exeter vs Steuben vs Chesterville
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 oldest population (median age 52.6).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Steuben | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,746Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,388 |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Exeter and Porter 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% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Steuben 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% |
15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest 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% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Porter 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 |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Exeter and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,100±$20kHighest 24% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Porter and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Chesterville 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 |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$2,194Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Porter and Exeter 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% ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 30% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Porter and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 24 | — |
| High school 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.