Compare towns
Fairfield vs Lyman vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
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 | Fairfield | Lyman | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,519Highest |
4,612 |
2,770Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±4 4% below ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lyman 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Fairfield and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,101±$11k 14% below ME |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Lyman and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,001±$101Lowest 12% below ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,217 27% below ME |
$2,717Highest 11% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest 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 | 10.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | Lawrence High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— | — |
| 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.