Compare towns
Benton vs Corinth vs Jay
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).
Corinth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Jay has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Corinth | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Lowest |
2,990 |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+0.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
42.7±6 5% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Benton and Corinth 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% |
23%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Corinth and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Jay 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% |
20.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Corinth 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 |
$64,229±$5k 14% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
| Jay and Corinth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
$135,800±$31kLowest 54% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Benton and Jay 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 |
$883±$157 22% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
| Benton and Corinth 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 |
$1,381Lowest 55% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.4%±11.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
11.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Corinth 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 | #102 of 133 in ME | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 64/MSAD 64 | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Central High School | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.