Compare towns
Benton vs Mapleton vs Washburn vs Windsor
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 highest household income ($92k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Washburn | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
2,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
| Washburn and Windsor 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Mapleton 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Windsor 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 |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$228,800±$22kHighest 23% below ME |
| Windsor and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,265±$400Highest 11% above ME |
| Windsor and Benton 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 |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,160Highest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Windsor 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% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 | — | — | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.