What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benton	Jay
People
Population	2,770Lowest	4,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±6Highest 4% below ME	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME
	Benton and Jay 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%	17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Benton and Jay 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%	19.3%±4.7Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jay 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	$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME
	Jay 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±$23kHighest 40% below ME	$168,600±$27kLowest 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	$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,758Lowest 42% below ME	$2,245Highest 26% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4%	27.2%±28.8Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 3 yrs newer than ME	1980 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 21% below ME	21 minHighest 13% below ME
Work from home	6.7%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9%	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Benton and Jay 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	#86 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 49/MSAD 49	RSU 73
High school in town	None in town	Spruce Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
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.