Compare towns
Stetson vs Appleton vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Stetson | Appleton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151 |
1,360Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Exeter and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,962 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.