Compare towns
Benton vs Deering vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Deering has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
Fairfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Deering | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
1,938Lowest |
6,519Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.8±5.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4 11% above U.S. |
| Deering and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Deering 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield 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 24% below U.S. |
$101,250±$16kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$64,101±$11k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23k 47% below U.S. |
$309,900±$27kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$164,300±$28kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 21% below U.S. |
$1,306±$116Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,001±$101Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Deering and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$6,223Highest 100% above U.S. |
$2,217 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfield and Deering 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 | — | #47 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.