Compare towns
Benton vs Mapleton vs Albion
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| Mapleton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
| Albion and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,987Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Albion and Mapleton 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None 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.