Compare towns
Stetson vs Readfield vs Exeter vs Prospect
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).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Readfield | Exeter | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,151 |
2,651Highest |
1,093 |
923Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
0%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Stetson 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Readfield 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
| Readfield and Exeter 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 |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,107±$61 about the ME average |
| Readfield and Prospect 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
30 minLowest 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 38 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Maranacook Community High Sch | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.