Compare towns
Canaan vs Ogunquit vs Benton vs West Paris
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
West Paris has the most renters (19.1% 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 | Canaan | Ogunquit | Benton | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,063 |
1,379Lowest |
2,770Highest |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±6.1 about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3 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+ | 18.8%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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±$13k 23% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$56,324±$5kLowest 25% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,900±$28kLowest 46% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
$193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $922±$252 19% below ME |
— | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$838±$333Lowest 26% below ME |
| 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
$2,083 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.3%±27.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 38% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and West Paris 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 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| 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 | 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.