Compare towns
Benton vs Lee vs Springfield
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
925 |
310Lowest |
| 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±11.5 15% above ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
| Springfield and Lee 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Springfield 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% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest 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 |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
| Benton and Springfield 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 |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% 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 |
$1,547 49% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% 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% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Springfield 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 | 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.