Compare towns
Benton vs Chapman vs Exeter vs Mapleton
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 most kids (27.6% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% 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 | Chapman | Exeter | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
388Lowest |
1,093 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Exeter 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% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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 |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
| Mapleton and Chapman 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 |
— | $995±$386 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Benton and Exeter 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 |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Exeter 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Exeter 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 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.