Compare towns
Benton vs Wayne vs Albion
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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Albion has the most renters (21% rent).
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 | Wayne | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
52.9±7.5 18% above ME |
| Wayne and Albion 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% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Albion 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| Wayne and Albion 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
— |
| Benton and Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Albion 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 38 | 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.