Compare towns
Benton vs Canton
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Canton |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
| Benton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Benton 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%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton 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%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and Canton 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 |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Benton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Benton and Canton 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 |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Benton 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% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton 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.