Compare towns
Canton vs Springfield vs Jay vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191 |
310Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Springfield 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% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest 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% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 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 |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Jay and Peru 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 |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% 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 |
— | $759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$723±$16 37% 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 | $2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
— | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Jay 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Springfield 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 73 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.