Compare towns
Jay vs Baldwin vs Canton vs Pittston
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Canton has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Pittston has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,170Lowest |
1,191 |
3,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% 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 |
41.4±5.9 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% |
17.2%±7.4 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%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest 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% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
| Pittston and Jay 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 |
$238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
| Baldwin and Pittston 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 |
— | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,080±$593Highest 5% below ME |
| Pittston 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 |
$2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
$1,909Lowest 37% 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% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | — | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.