Compare towns
Canton vs Oakland vs Knox
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%).
Oakland has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Oakland | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191 |
6,309Highest |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2Highest 8% below ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Canton and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland and Knox 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 |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Oakland and Knox 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 |
$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% 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±$74 18% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$2,439Highest 20% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Knox 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 | 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.