Compare towns
Benton vs Augusta vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Clinton has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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.
| Measure | Benton | Augusta | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Lowest |
19,077Highest |
3,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
42.5±2.4Lowest 5% below ME |
50.7±4.3Highest 13% above ME |
| Clinton 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% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±6.7Lowest 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% |
21.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clinton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$71,458±$39kHighest 4% below ME |
| Clinton 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 |
$201,000±$18kHighest 32% below ME |
$187,000±$28k 37% below ME |
| Augusta and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME |
| Clinton and Benton 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 |
$1,910 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±26.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Clinton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 21% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±11.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Augusta and Clinton 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 | #116 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— |
| 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.