Compare towns
Benton vs Ogunquit vs Sumner 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Canaan has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,379 |
845Lowest |
2,063 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
44.2±6.1 about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Sumner 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canaan 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.8%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Sumner 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$57,781±$13k 23% 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$159,900±$28k 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
— | — | $922±$252Lowest 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,530Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.3%±27.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Benton 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
34 min 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — | RSU 10 | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| 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 | 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.