Compare towns
Anson vs Canton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 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 | Anson | Canton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,191 |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2Highest 3% below ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Anson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Anson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME |
| Jay and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247Highest 20% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Anson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Jay 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 | — | — | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | — | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | — | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.