Compare towns
Benson vs Augusta vs West Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Benson | Augusta | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
19,077Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$245,000±$34kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 21% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
— |
| Benson and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.