What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mexico	Benton
People
Population	2,782Highest	2,770Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±2.8Highest 3% below ME	42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME
	Mexico and Benton 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%	19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±4Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±1.8Lowest 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	$61,437±$5kHighest 18% below ME
	Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME	$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$275Lowest 10% 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	$1,758Lowest 42% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±17.8Lowest 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%	10%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the ME average	20 minLowest 21% below ME
Work from home	5.6%±3.6Lowest 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

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.