Compare towns
Windsor vs Exeter vs Benton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
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 | Windsor | Exeter | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,690 |
1,093Lowest |
2,770Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±8 about the ME average |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
| Exeter and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest 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+ | 21% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,800±$22kHighest 23% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$176,700±$23k 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$400Highest 11% above ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,110±$123 about the ME average |
| Windsor and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160Highest 29% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.1% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 45% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest 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 | #44 of 133 in ME | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 12 | — | 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.