Compare towns
Benton vs Jay vs Windsor
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Jay has the highest household income ($70k).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Jay | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
4,657Highest |
2,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
43.5±8Highest about the ME average |
| Windsor 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% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Benton 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%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
| Jay and Windsor 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$228,800±$22kHighest 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,265±$400Highest 11% above ME |
| Windsor 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Windsor 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% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3 ME: 15.9% |
| Benton and Windsor 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 | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 73 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.