Compare towns
Benton vs Sidney 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 most affordable homes ($177k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Windsor has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Sidney | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
4,790Highest |
2,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
43.5±8Highest about the ME average |
| Windsor and Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Sidney 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% |
33.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and Windsor 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 |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$228,800±$22k 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,265±$400 11% above ME |
| Sidney and Windsor 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 |
$2,474Highest 19% below ME |
$2,160 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 18 | RSU 12 |
| 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.