Compare towns
Fairfield vs Mapleton vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering FairfieldFairfield
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most renters (38.7% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Fairfield | Mapleton | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,356 |
1,884Lowest |
2,770Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 34.2±7.7Lowest 24% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
| Benton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | $52,409±$23kLowest 30% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$17kLowest 53% 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 | $1,013±$142 11% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,119Highest 30% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
20 min 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Fairfield 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 | #47 of 133 in ME | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school 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.