Compare towns
Steuben vs Sumner vs Exeter vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Steuben has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Stetson has the most expensive homes ($206k 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 | Steuben | Sumner | Exeter | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,388Highest |
845Lowest |
1,093 |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest 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+ | 15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Exeter and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
— | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$800±$377 30% 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 | $2,029 33% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 14% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 10 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.