Compare towns
Durham vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Benton has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Durham | Benton |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
2,770Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
| Benton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$123 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.