Compare towns
Canaan vs Mapleton vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Canaan | Mapleton | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,063 |
1,884Lowest |
2,770Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±6.1Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Canaan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,781±$13kLowest 23% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,900±$28kLowest 46% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
| Mapleton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $922±$252 19% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,530Lowest 50% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.3%±27.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 38% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton 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 54/MSAD 54 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.