Compare towns

Canton vs Knox 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).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
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.

MeasureCantonKnoxOgunquitJay
People
Population
1,191
825Lowest
1,379
4,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.6%
ME: +2.6%
+0.6%
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-4.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.4±7.2
8% below ME
41.1±7.9
8% below 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%
13.9%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.5%±5.4
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%
17.3%±2.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4.7
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%
26%
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%
4.6%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±3.2
ME: 5.8%
Knox 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
$64,821±$9k
13% below ME
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$70,238±$19k
6% below ME
Ogunquit 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±$50k
44% below ME
$159,600±$26kLowest
46% below ME
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$168,600±$27k
43% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$485±$18Lowest
57% below ME
$1,375±$47Highest
21% above ME
—
$759±$141
33% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,277
25% below ME
$1,610Lowest
47% below ME
$4,473Highest
47% above ME
$2,245
26% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
88.9%±33.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
11.3%±31.5
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.2%±28.8
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%
8.6%
ME: 10.7%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.4%
ME: 74.3%
80.1%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
1985Highest
8 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
30 min
22% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
21 minLowest
13% below ME
Work from home
16.1%±6.4
ME: 15.9%
12.3%±7.4
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — — #86 of 133 in ME
School district — — — RSU 73
High school 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 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.