Compare towns
Canton vs Temple 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%).
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Temple | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191 |
824Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2Highest 8% below ME |
34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
| Canton and Jay 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% |
32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Jay 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Temple 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 |
$56,087±$2k 25% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
| Jay and Temple 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 |
$210,200±$79kHighest 29% below ME |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
| Temple 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 |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Temple and Jay 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 |
$2,367Highest 22% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Temple 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% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Temple 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 |
| High school 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.