Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 923, incorporated in 1832. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lee’s average trip to work is 35 minutes, against 25 minutes in Maine’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. No town among the 144 in Maine we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Lee. Its National Register listings include Abial Cushman Store and Mallett Hall. Lee has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Lee beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
![[View of] Lee, Maine](https://images.townratings.com/story/23473/f33ba98f5a5f87d67384-l.jpg)
Census counts: 724 in 1840, 916 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1868 and 3 maps from 1920 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lee, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Lee.
The typical Lee home is worth about $188,000, up 3% in a year, 54% below the Maine typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by RSU 30/MSAD 30. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Jefferson Jr High SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 75 | B+ |
| Lee Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 128 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Lee’s median household income is $50,000, below both Maine’s towns ($78,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). 20% of residents live below the poverty line in Lee. Jobs based in Lee fell to 153 in 2023, 125 fewer than in 2013.
| Lee | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $50,000 | $78,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 12% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 8.7% | 12% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 75% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Lee has cold winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Lee is 79°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
14 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
| Lee | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 9.4% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. David Priest (Dwinal Pond) Wildlife Management Area | 1.2 mi | 2,353 |
| 2. Cole’s Landing | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
20% of Lee adults report frequent physical distress. Among 144 Maine towns, just 1 have a higher share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Lee. 21% of Lee adults report frequent mental distress.
| Lee | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 35% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 19% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 23% | 25% |
| What stands out | Lee | ME |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.2% | 15.5% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 17.5% | 10.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Lee; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Lee residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maine.
Where Lee’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Maine, United States
Lee is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was incorporated in 1832. The town was originally called Mattekeunk, but changed it to Lee to give it an English name. Stephen Lee suggested the town be named Lee after Revolutionary general Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee. To further convince the townsfolk, he brought a barrel of rum to the meeting. The population was 916 at the 2020 census. Lee has been home to Lee Academy since 1845.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Lee has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real. Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.