Compare towns
Stetson vs Wells vs Exeter vs Steuben
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Steuben has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Wells | Exeter | Steuben |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,151 |
11,713Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,388 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Wells and Exeter 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Steuben 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
| Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $800±$377 30% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
| Wells 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 |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Wells 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 12% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wells and Steuben 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.