Compare towns
Canton vs Peru 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%).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).
Knox has the most renters (19.9% rent).
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 | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191 |
1,501Highest |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Peru 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.9Lowest 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% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Knox 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±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Peru 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±$50kHighest 44% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
| Canton and Knox 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 |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Peru 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.