Compare towns
Benton vs Chelsea
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).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
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 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Lowest |
2,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
42.2±3.6Lowest 6% below ME |
| Benton and Chelsea 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% |
23.3%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chelsea 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% |
22.6%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chelsea 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% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$85,471±$10kHighest 14% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$182,300±$37kHighest 39% below ME |
| Chelsea and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average |
$1,373±$90Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,313Highest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±19.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
36 minHighest 48% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Benton and Chelsea 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 | #93 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.