Compare towns
Canton vs Parsonsfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Parsonsfield has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Parsonsfield | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
1,715 |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
44.3±5.9Highest about the ME average |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Parsonsfield and Canton 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% |
25%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Parsonsfield 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%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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 |
$72,045±$18kHighest 4% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Parsonsfield 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 |
$272,100±$21kHighest 8% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,185±$312Highest 4% above ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Parsonsfield 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 |
$2,350Highest 23% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
78.2%±35 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 42% above ME |
48 minHighest 97% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2 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 Our Story | 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.