Compare towns
Corinna vs Jay vs Exeter vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Corinna has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Corinna | Jay | Exeter | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,192 |
4,657Highest |
1,093Lowest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.9 5% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Exeter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Corinna and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,547±$12kLowest 24% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Exeter and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,200±$25kLowest 45% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
| Benton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$599 18% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,565Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±27 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Corinna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 13%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Corinna and Exeter 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.