Compare towns
Benton vs Ogunquit vs Mexico
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k 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 | Ogunquit | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
1,379Lowest |
2,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Mexico 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Benton 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
— | $1,027±$275Lowest 10% below ME |
| Benton and Mexico 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 133 in ME | — | #130 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 |
| 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.