What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benton	Albion
People
Population	2,770Highest	2,204Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME	52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME
	Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%	12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	23.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME	$62,361±$23kHighest 17% below ME
	Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME	$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$123 about the ME average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,758Lowest 42% below ME	$1,987Highest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	46.2%±23.3Lowest 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	10%Lowest ME: 10.7%	18.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	79%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 21% below ME	34 minHighest 36% above ME
Work from home	6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Albion and Benton 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	#85 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 49/MSAD 49	RSU 49/MSAD 49
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.