Compare towns
Jay vs Anson vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Jay | Anson | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,331 |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Anson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest 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+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Jay and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% 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 | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Anson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest 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 | 9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Jay 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 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Carrabec High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.