Compare towns
Canton vs Wolfeboro vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Wolfeboro | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
6,571Highest |
4,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 6% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Wolfeboro 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 35% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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±$50kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$168,600±$27k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$759±$141 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 27% below U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.