Compare towns
Canton vs Peru vs Jay vs Dixfield
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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Peru | Jay | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
1,501 |
4,657Highest |
2,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Dixfield and Peru 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Peru 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Peru 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 |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME |
| Dixfield 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Jay 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 |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$658±$287 42% below ME |
| Jay and Peru 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 |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Dixfield 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Peru 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 | — | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 73 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.