Compare towns
Canton vs Jay vs Jefferson vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Jay | Jefferson | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
4,657Highest |
2,647 |
1,379 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit 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 ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$311,600±$35k 5% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | Jefferson Public Schools | — |
| 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.