Compare towns
Appleton vs Canton vs Jay vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Appleton | Canton | Jay | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,191Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Canton 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 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 73 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.