Compare towns
Canton vs Embden vs Jay 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%).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Embden | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191 |
995Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Embden 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% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 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% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden 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% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 30% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Jay and Peru 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 |
$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Embden 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 |
— | $759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Jay and Peru 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 |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| 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 ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Embden 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 | — | — | #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 |
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.