Compare towns
Albion vs Belgrade vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Albion | Belgrade | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,204Lowest |
3,351Highest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Albion and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Belgrade and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Albion 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 18 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None 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.