Compare towns
Canton vs Phillips 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%).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Jay has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Phillips | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191 |
1,094Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Phillips 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,458±$35k 30% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
| Jay 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Phillips and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18 57% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Phillips 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Canton 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.