Compare towns
China vs Benton vs Albion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Albion has the most people working from home (15.7%).
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 | China | Benton | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
2,770 |
2,204Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| China and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest 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 | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Albion and China 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 | #27 of 133 in ME | #85 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | 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.