Compare towns
Benton vs Baldwin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k 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 | Benton | Baldwin |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,170Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
| Baldwin 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% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Baldwin 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% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin 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% |
23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin 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±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$68,045±$8kHighest 9% below ME |
| Baldwin 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 |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,540Highest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Baldwin 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 | — |
| High school 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.