Compare towns

Benton vs Mapleton vs Milford

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).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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.

MeasureBentonMapletonMilford
People
Population
2,770
1,884Lowest
3,095Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
0%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
42.8±6
4% below ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
43.3±6Highest
3% below ME
Milford 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%
17.1%±5.6Lowest
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%±3.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
17.2%±6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Benton and Mapleton 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%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
18.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
5.4%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Milford and Mapleton 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
$85,111±$26k
14% above ME
Mapleton and Milford 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±$23kHighest
35% below ME
$176,400±$48kLowest
41% below ME
Mapleton and Benton 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
$943±$57
17% below ME
Benton and Milford 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
$1,789
41% below ME
$1,962Highest
35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65.7%±22.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
55.6%±48.2
ME: 48.4%
Benton and Milford 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%
8.9%
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.2%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
21% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
23 min
7% below ME
Work from home
6.7%±4.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
11.9%±7.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
Milford 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 — #75 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 49/MSAD 49 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Milford Public Schools
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.