Compare towns
Canton vs Jackson vs Jay
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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Jackson | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191 |
897Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 6% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±5.4 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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±$50kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$168,600±$27k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$759±$141 46% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Jay 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | Jackson School District | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.