Compare towns
Canton vs Hampton vs Jay vs Dixfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dixfield has the most homeowners (85.5%).
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 | Hampton | Jay | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
16,426Highest |
4,657 |
2,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 6% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.4 28% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Dixfield 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. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$70,613±$9k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50k 50% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$168,600±$27k 49% below U.S. |
$160,900±$24kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$759±$141 46% below U.S. |
$658±$287 53% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 27% below U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,324 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 73 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Spruce Mountain High School | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.