Compare towns
Stetson vs Jay 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151 |
4,657Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Jay 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% 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±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Stetson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377 30% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Stetson 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Exeter 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.