Compare towns
Benton vs Wayne vs Canaan
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%).
Canaan has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,770Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,063 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
44.2±6.1 about the ME average |
| Wayne and Canaan 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canaan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.8%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.8Lowest 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±$5k 18% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$57,781±$13kLowest 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$159,900±$28kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$922±$252Lowest 19% 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 | $1,758 42% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,530Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.3%±27.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Wayne 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% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 38 | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| 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.