Compare towns
Benton vs Sumner vs Clinton
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Clinton has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Sumner | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770 |
845Lowest |
3,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
50.7±4.3 13% above ME |
| Sumner and Clinton 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Clinton 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clinton 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$71,458±$39kHighest 4% below ME |
| Clinton 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$187,000±$28kHighest 37% below ME |
| Clinton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME |
| Clinton and Benton 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 |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,910 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±26.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Clinton 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±11.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Clinton 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 | — | #116 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 10 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| 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.