Compare towns
Benton vs Chapman vs Albion
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).
Chapman has the highest household income ($93k).
Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).
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 | Chapman | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
388Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion and Chapman 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Albion 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% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| Chapman and Albion 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 |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
| Albion and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,850 39% below ME |
$1,987Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Albion 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 49/MSAD 49 |
| 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.