Compare towns
Mexico vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Mexico | Exeter | Anson | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
1,093Lowest |
2,331 |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Exeter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Benton 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% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
| Benton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275 10% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$928±$62Lowest 19% 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 |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | — | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Carrabec High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.