Compare towns
Benton vs Lee
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (11.9%).
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
| Lee and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee 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% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee 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±$5kHighest 18% below ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
$174,500±$25kLowest 41% below ME |
| Benton and Lee 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Highest 42% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Lee 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 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | None 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.