Compare towns
Canton vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Knox has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Exeter | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Highest |
1,093 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Knox 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Knox and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Knox 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 |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Knox and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,610 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 42% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.