Compare towns
Canton vs Jay vs Meredith 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%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
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 | Jay | Meredith | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
4,657 |
6,758Highest |
2,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 6% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.9±4.4 28% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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% |
17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 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. |
$70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$70,613±$9k 13% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50k 50% below U.S. |
$168,600±$27k 49% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$160,900±$24kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$759±$141 46% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$658±$287 53% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,324 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Meredith 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% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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.