Compare towns
Stetson vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Cornish | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151 |
1,803Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
39±8.5Lowest 13% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Stetson 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% |
18.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Cornish 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% |
17.4%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Cornish 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% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$69,038±$4kLowest 8% 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 |
$274,200±$84kHighest 8% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Cornish 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 |
$1,196±$148Highest 5% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
| Cornish 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 |
$2,309Highest 24% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Cornish 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% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
31 minLowest 27% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.