Compare towns
Benton vs Fairfield vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Fairfield has the most renters (38.7% rent).
Clinton has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Fairfield | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
2,356Lowest |
3,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
34.2±7.7Lowest 24% below ME |
50.7±4.3Highest 13% above ME |
| Clinton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Benton 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% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Clinton 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% |
13.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clinton 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±$5k 18% below ME |
$52,409±$23kLowest 30% below ME |
$71,458±$39kHighest 4% below ME |
| Clinton and Benton 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 |
$139,600±$17kLowest 53% below ME |
$187,000±$28kHighest 37% below ME |
| Clinton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$1,013±$142Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME |
| Clinton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,119Highest 30% below ME |
$1,910 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±26.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Clinton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
16.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 21% below ME |
18 minLowest 25% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Clinton and Fairfield 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 | #116 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.