Compare towns
Fairfield vs Milo 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 youngest population (median age 34.2).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Benton has the most expensive 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 | Fairfield | Milo | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,356 |
2,165Lowest |
2,770Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 34.2±7.7Lowest 24% below ME |
43.9±7Highest about the ME average |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Milo and Benton 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% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Fairfield and Benton 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% |
18.2%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Milo 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% |
21.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Benton and Fairfield 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 |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$61,437±$5kHighest 18% below ME |
| Benton and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$17k 53% below ME |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
| Benton and Fairfield 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 |
$879±$400Lowest 23% 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 |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Milo 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 31 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
20 min 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Fairfield and Benton 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 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | — | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.