Compare towns

Canton vs Brooks vs Knox

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%).
Brooks has the most expensive homes ($197k median).
Knox has the highest household income ($65k).

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.

MeasureCantonBrooksKnox
People
Population
1,191
1,208Highest
825Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+0.6%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.4±7.2
8% below ME
45.9±6.6Highest
about the ME average
41.1±7.9Lowest
8% below ME
Brooks and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±4.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Canton and Brooks 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%
17%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
17.3%±2.9
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
27.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
26%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.5Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.6%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
Brooks and Knox 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
$59,130±$10k
21% below ME
$64,821±$9kHighest
13% below ME
Knox and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$165,000±$50k
44% below ME
$196,700±$33kHighest
34% below ME
$159,600±$26kLowest
46% below ME
Brooks and Canton 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
$1,116±$112
about the ME average
$1,375±$47Highest
21% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,277Highest
25% below ME
$2,096
31% below ME
$1,610Lowest
47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
88.9%±33.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3
ME: 48.4%
11.3%±31.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
8.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
80.1%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
2 yrs older than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
42% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
30 min
22% above ME
Work from home
16.1%±6.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.5%±2.9
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±7.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Canton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 03/MSAD 03 —
High school 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.