Compare towns
Somerville vs Exeter vs Windsor vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Windsor has the most expensive homes ($229k median).
Freedom has the oldest housing (typical home built 1985).
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 | Somerville | Exeter | Windsor | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 837 |
1,093 |
2,690Highest |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Exeter and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$228,800±$22kHighest 23% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
| Windsor and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,265±$400 11% above ME |
— |
| Somerville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Highest 17% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.1% ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Freedom 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 | — | — | #44 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 12 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.