Compare towns
Benton vs Porter
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).
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Porter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,746Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Benton and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Porter 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% |
20.4%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Porter 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±$5kHighest 18% below ME |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Benton and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$226,100±$20kHighest 24% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,841Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Porter 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% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Porter and Benton 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.