Compare towns
Canton vs Dexter 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%).
Dexter has the oldest population (median age 51).
Jay has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Dexter | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
3,822 |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Dexter 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% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 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+ | 27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,458±$35k 30% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
| Jay and Canton 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 |
$170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Dexter and Jay 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 |
$838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Dexter and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$2,186Lowest 28% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Dexter 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% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Dexter 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 | — | #113 of 133 in ME | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | MSAD 46 | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | Dexter Regional High School | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.