What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).

Oakland has the highest household income ($78k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canton	Oakland
People
Population	1,191Lowest	6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±7.2Highest 8% below ME	40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME
	Canton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4%	18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Canton and Oakland 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%	24.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Oakland and Canton 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	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME
	Oakland and Canton 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	$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME
	Oakland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME	$939±$74Highest 18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,277Lowest 25% below ME	$2,439Highest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Canton and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	27 minLowest 8% above ME
Work from home	16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Canton and Oakland 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	—	#23 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 18
High school in town	—	Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.