Compare towns
Benton vs Carmel 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Carmel has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Clinton has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Carmel | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Lowest |
2,941 |
3,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
46.4±4.5 4% above ME |
50.7±4.3Highest 13% above ME |
| Clinton and Carmel 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% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Carmel 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% |
16.5%±5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Clinton 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clinton 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 |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$71,458±$39k 4% below ME |
| Carmel and Clinton 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 |
$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$187,000±$28k 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$1,177±$118 3% above ME |
| Carmel and Clinton 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 |
$2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$1,910 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Lowest 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% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Clinton 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #116 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None 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.