Compare towns
Benton vs Unity vs Fairfield
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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,858Lowest |
2,356 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
34.2±7.7 24% below ME |
| Benton and Fairfield 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Benton 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% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$52,409±$23kLowest 30% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$139,600±$17kLowest 53% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,013±$142 11% below ME |
| Benton and Fairfield 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,119 30% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Fairfield 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 21% below ME |
21 minHighest 14% below ME |
18 minLowest 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Fairfield 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 | — | #47 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.