Compare towns
Mexico vs Sumner 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 the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Sumner | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
845Lowest |
2,770 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$61,437±$5kHighest 18% below ME |
| Benton and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
| Benton and Sumner 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 | $1,961 35% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 | 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.