Compare towns
Canton vs Jay vs Wayne
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%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191 |
4,657Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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 44% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | RSU 73 | RSU 38 |
| 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 |
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.