Compare towns
Mexico vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (11.9%).
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 | Lee | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
925Lowest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Lee and Mexico 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% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Benton 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% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
14.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Lee 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 |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% 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 |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
| Benton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Benton 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% |
19.5% ME: 10.7% |
10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee 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 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None 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.