Compare towns
Benton vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and Benton 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% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and Strong 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Benton and Strong 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 |
$183,900±$29kHighest 38% below ME |
| Strong and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Benton and Strong 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 |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.