Compare towns
Benton vs Canton vs Canaan
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%).
Canaan has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,191Lowest |
2,063 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
44.2±6.1Highest about the ME average |
| Canaan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canaan and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.8%±4.6Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and Canaan 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 |
$57,781±$13k 23% below ME |
| Benton and Canaan 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±$50k 44% below ME |
$159,900±$28kLowest 46% 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 |
$922±$252 19% below ME |
| Benton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758 42% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$1,530Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.3%±27.3Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
34 min 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.1%±2.2Lowest 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 | — | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.