Compare towns
Stetson vs Lee 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 youngest population (median age 42.2).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Lee | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151Highest |
925Lowest |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Lee 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% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% 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 |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Stetson and Lee 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 |
— | $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 | $1,962Highest 35% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 29% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | — |
| 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.