Compare towns
Stetson vs Surry 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Surry | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,151 |
1,836Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Surry 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% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Surry 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry 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% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28k about the ME average |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Surry 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 |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Surry 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% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Surry and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Surry Public Schools | — |
| 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.