Compare towns
Canton vs Sumner vs Jay vs Bradley
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%).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bradley has the most expensive homes ($202k median).
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 | Sumner | Jay | Bradley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,191 |
845Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
| Sumner and Bradley 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradley and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Canton 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Bradley 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$76,667±$28kHighest about the ME average |
| Bradley 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$201,800±$37kHighest 32% below ME |
| Bradley and Jay 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±$141 33% below ME |
$1,088±$325Highest 4% below ME |
| Bradley and Jay 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Canton 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 42% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 | RSU 73 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.