Compare towns
Stetson vs Orono 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).
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Orono | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151 |
11,902Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
21.8±0.3Lowest 51% 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% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Stetson 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% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$61,528±$5kLowest 18% 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 |
$272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Orono 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 |
$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
| Orono 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 |
$4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
58.1%±10.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Orono 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% |
24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% ME: 74.3% |
46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Orono and Stetson 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 | — | #26 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Orono High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.