Compare towns
Benton vs Exeter
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 most kids (19.9% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
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 | Exeter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,093Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
| Exeter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Benton and Exeter 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±$386Lowest 13% 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 | $1,758Highest 42% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.