What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has the most homeowners (84.2%).

Augusta has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Augusta
People
Population	2,770Lowest	19,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±6Highest 4% below ME	42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME
	Benton and Augusta 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%	18.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Benton and Augusta 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%	21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Augusta 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%	28.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Augusta and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,437±$5kHighest 18% below ME	$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME	$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME
	Augusta and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average	$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME
	Benton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,758Lowest 42% below ME	$2,465Highest 19% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Benton and Augusta 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%	18.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 21% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Augusta 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	#119 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 49/MSAD 49	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

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.