Compare towns
Benton vs Casco vs Fairfield
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%).
Casco has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Fairfield has the most renters (38.7% rent).
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 | Casco | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
3,696Highest |
2,356Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
52±3.3Highest 16% above ME |
34.2±7.7Lowest 24% below ME |
| Casco and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Benton 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% |
26.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Casco 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% ME: 36.2% |
32.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Casco 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±$5k 18% below ME |
$69,313±$19kHighest 7% below ME |
$52,409±$23kLowest 30% below ME |
| Casco 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±$23k 40% below ME |
$355,500±$58kHighest 20% above ME |
$139,600±$17kLowest 53% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$1,395±$184Highest 22% above ME |
$1,013±$142Lowest 11% below ME |
| Casco 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 |
$3,085Highest about the ME average |
$2,119 30% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
39.7%±35.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
16.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 21% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.6%±10Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 133 in ME | — | #47 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | — |
| 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.