Compare towns
Benton vs Mapleton vs Albion vs Canaan
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%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Mapleton | Albion | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,204 |
2,063 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
44.2±6.1 about the ME average |
| Albion and Canaan 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% |
22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.8%±4.6 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% |
24.1% 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% |
2.5%±1.8 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±$5k 18% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$57,781±$13kLowest 23% 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±$23k 40% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
$159,900±$28kLowest 46% 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 |
— | $922±$252 19% below ME |
| Benton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758 42% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,987Highest 35% below ME |
$1,530Lowest 50% 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% |
24.3%±27.3 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% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 min 36% above ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.1%±2.2Lowest 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 | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.