Compare towns
Benton vs Fairfield vs Mapleton 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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Mapleton | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,770 |
6,519Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
43.1±4 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
50.7±4.3Highest 13% above ME |
| Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Clinton 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 |
$64,101±$11k 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$71,458±$39k 4% below ME |
| Mapleton and Clinton 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 |
$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$187,000±$28k 37% below ME |
| Mapleton and Clinton 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 |
$1,001±$101 12% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$2,217Highest 27% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,910 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
10.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.