Compare towns
Jay vs Baldwin 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).
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k 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 | Baldwin | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,170Lowest |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Baldwin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Jay 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 |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Jay and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
— | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Baldwin 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.