Compare towns
Canton vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Canton | Appleton | Mapleton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884 |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 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+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 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 | 8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Appleton 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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 | 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.