Compare towns
Canton vs Dummer vs Jay vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Dummer has the most expensive homes ($242k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Dummer | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191 |
299Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 6% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
48±7.6 23% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Peru 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 35% below U.S. |
$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$66,827±$19k 17% below U.S. |
| Dummer 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±$50k 50% below U.S. |
$242,200±$51kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$168,600±$27k 49% below U.S. |
$141,300±$38kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Dummer and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 66% below U.S. |
— | $759±$141Highest 46% below U.S. |
$723±$16 49% below U.S. |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 27% below U.S. |
$2,898Highest 7% below U.S. |
$2,245 28% below U.S. |
$1,799Lowest 42% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.7%±37.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Peru 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 | RSU 56 |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.