Compare towns
Canton vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Wayne | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Highest |
1,101 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Knox 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Knox 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Wayne 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±$50k 44% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Knox and Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.