Compare towns
Canton vs Eliot vs Peru
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%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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 | Eliot | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Eliot 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Eliot and Canton 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% |
43.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Canton 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 |
$101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
$498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
23 minLowest 9% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
17.4%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.