Compare towns
Troy vs Exeter vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Strong has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Troy | Exeter | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,093 |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Exeter and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Troy and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Troy and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Troy and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,000±$31kHighest 28% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Troy and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Troy and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,752 42% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Troy and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 50 minHighest 102% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.