Compare towns
Canton vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit vs Jay
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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
11,820Highest |
1,379 |
4,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
54.6±3.3 22% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Kennebunk 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% |
30%±4 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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% |
51.2% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Ogunquit 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 |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21k 64% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
— | $759±$141 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 21 | — | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | Kennebunk High School | — | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.