Compare towns
Steep Falls vs Exeter vs Baldwin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k 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.
| Measure | Steep Falls | Exeter | Baldwin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,861Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
| Exeter and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3 ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
| Exeter and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
| Baldwin and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— |
| Steep Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,273Highest 8% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 25% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Baldwin 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.