Compare towns
Prospect vs Exeter vs Bucksport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Bucksport has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Prospect | Exeter | Bucksport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 923Lowest |
1,093 |
3,105Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
53.6±9.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Bucksport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bucksport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$62,011±$4kLowest 17% below ME |
| Exeter and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$214,300±$71kHighest 28% below ME |
| Bucksport and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$855±$77Lowest 25% below ME |
| Prospect and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979Highest 35% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,801 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
58%±54Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bucksport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 34% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Bucksport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #68 of 133 in ME |
| 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.