Compare towns
Jay vs Bowdoin 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).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k 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 | Bowdoin | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
3,188 |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Bowdoin 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% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Bowdoin 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Bowdoin 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 |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Bowdoin 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 |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$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 |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Bowdoin 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 | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| 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 |
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.