Compare towns
Jay vs Exeter vs Chesterville 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).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Chesterville | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,397 |
1,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Chesterville and Jay 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Chesterville and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
35 min 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Exeter 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 | 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.