Compare towns
Mexico vs Anson vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Anson has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Mexico | Anson | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
680Lowest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Highest 3% below ME |
43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Mexico and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Anson and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10k 63% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275 10% below ME |
$914±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961Highest 35% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% ME: 74.3% |
60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 19 yrs older than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Benton and Mexico 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | — | 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.